Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CChâteau de F
ebleau
The resplendent, 1900-room Château de Fontainebleau once housed tenants and
guests who were the
crème de la crème
of French royalty and aristocracy. Every
square centimetre of wall and ceiling space is richly adorned with wood panelling, gil-
ded carvings, frescos, tapestries and paintings, with furniture including Renaissance
originals.
The first château was built here in the early 12th century, but only a single medieval
tower survived the reconstruction undertaken by François I (r 1515-47). It was further
enlarged and reworked by successive heads of state including Napoléon Bonaparte.
Among the château's many highlights are the Grands A
u de Fontaiineble
ds Appartements, which em-
brace several outstanding rooms, including the Second Empire salon and Musée
Chinois de l'Impératice Eugénie (Chinese Museum of Empress Eugénie), four drawing
rooms created in 1863 for the oriental art and artefacts collected by Napoléon III's
wife. The Gale
alerie F
ie François 1e
is 1er (François I Gallery) is a jewel of Renaissance architec-
ture.
Mar, Apr & Oct, to 4.30pm Nov-Feb, palace park 24hr)
and courtyards include André Le Nôtre's
formal, 17th-century Jardin Français (French Garden), also known as the Grand Par-
terre, and informal Jardin Anglais (English Garden).
