# Palace of Fontainebleau, Paris > Fontainebleau is one of the largest royal palaces in France, 55 kilometres south-east of Paris amid a vast forest. For nearly eight centuries kings lived and hunted here, from Louis VII to Napoleon III, each adding something. So the palace blends a medieval keep, Francis I's Renaissance, Louis XIV's rooms and Napoleon's throne room. Around it are gardens, the Carp Pond and a forest beloved of climbers. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site, about 40 minutes from Paris by train. Web page: https://yesgo.io/france/paris/fontainebleau - City: [Paris](https://yesgo.io/france/paris), France - YesGo score: 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 4 h - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Palace ticket, gardens free - Hours: By day, closed Tuesday - Getting there: Transilien R train to Fontainebleau–Avon - UNESCO: Since 1981 - Duration: Half a day, or a full day with the forest - Location: Fontainebleau, 55 km south-east of Paris - Coordinates: 48.40222, 2.70056 - Facts checked: 12.11.2026 ## Key facts - **1137** — first record of the residence (source: English Wikipedia) - **55 km** — from central Paris (source: English Wikipedia) - **1981** — UNESCO World Heritage listing (source: English Wikipedia) - **4 ha** — area of the Carp Pond (source: English Wikipedia) ## About Fontainebleau Fontainebleau is a royal palace in the town of the same name, **55 kilometres** south-east of Paris. The name comes from the Belle-Eau ('beautiful water') spring, which still flows in the English garden. A royal residence is first recorded here in **1137**: kings came each autumn to hunt in the game-rich forests. Almost every French monarch added to the palace, which is why Napoleon called it 'the true residence of kings, the house of the centuries'. A medieval keep, Francis I's Renaissance, the splendour of Henry II and Louis XIV, Napoleon's own throne room and Napoleon III's theatre all sit in one ensemble. Since **1981** the palace and park have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. ## What to see - **The Gallery of Francis I** — one of France's first Renaissance galleries. - **Henry II's ballroom** — a coffered ceiling and frescoes. - **The horseshoe staircase** — the palace's symbol in the White Horse Courtyard. - **Napoleon's throne room** — in the former royal bedchamber. - **The Garden of Diana and the great parterre** — gardens around the palace. - **The Carp Pond** — with a pavilion in the water. ## The Francis I Gallery and the Renaissance The palace took its present form under **Francis I** in the 16th century: the architect Gilles Le Breton built the **Oval Court** and the Golden Gate in the Italian manner. From 1528 the king created the **Gallery of Francis I**, painted in 1533–1539 by the Florentine **Rosso Fiorentino**, then by Primaticcio from Bologna. Its frescoes framed in stucco and carved panelling launched a whole style, the **School of Fontainebleau**. Under Henry II an open loggia became the **Ballroom**, with huge windows and a coffered ceiling. Its décor repeats the letter 'H', the king's initial, and crescent moons, the emblem of Diane de Poitiers. It's one of the most beautiful rooms of the French Renaissance. > **Planning your trip** The palace is usually closed on Tuesdays. Transilien R trains leave Paris from Gare de Lyon; a bus runs from Fontainebleau–Avon station to the palace. Visit the palace in the morning, lunch in town and spend the afternoon in the gardens or forest. The gardens and park are generally free. Palace tickets are sold on site or online. ## The apartments of kings and Napoleon The palace preserves apartments from many eras. **Louis XIV** spent more time here than any other king, hunting in the forest every autumn. Under Louis XV the architect Gabriel, designer of the Place de la Concorde, added a new wing of pale stone. The queens' apartments are dressed in silk and gilding. Napoleon loved Fontainebleau. In 1808 he set up his **throne room** in the former bedchamber of the kings of France, exactly where the royal bed had stood. His private apartments and Empire furniture survive. Under Napoleon III an elegant **theatre** was built, restored in 2007–2014. ## Gardens, pond and the horseshoe staircase The main courtyard is graced by the famous **horseshoe-shaped staircase**, designed by Philibert de l'Orme and now the symbol of Fontainebleau. Gardens spread around the palace: the **Garden of Diana** with its fountain of the hunting goddess, created under Catherine de' Medici, Le Nôtre's great French parterre and the English garden with the Belle-Eau spring. Beside the palace lies the 4-hectare **Carp Pond** with a small pavilion in the water. Carp were introduced under Henry IV, and courtiers went boating here. In summer you can hire a rowing boat. ## The Forest of Fontainebleau The palace is surrounded by the **Forest of Fontainebleau**, a former royal hunting park now loved for walking, riding and cycling. Thousands of sandstone boulders lie among the pines and oaks, making it the world's largest area for **bouldering**, climbing rocks without ropes. Hundreds of kilometres of trails of varying difficulty wind through the forest. Combine the palace with a forest walk for a great day outdoors. In nearby Barbizon lived the painters of the Barbizon School, who painted these woods. ## How to get there 1. **Transilien R** train from Gare de Lyon to **Fontainebleau–Avon**, about 40 minutes. 2. From the station, a bus to the 'Château' stop or a 30-minute walk. 3. By car or transfer from Paris, about an hour via the A6. 4. Tours from Paris often combine Fontainebleau with Barbizon or Vaux-le-Vicomte. ## Tips for your trip Allow two to three hours for the palace, or a full day with the gardens and a forest walk. An audio guide helps you sort out whose era is whose. Comfortable shoes are essential, as there are many rooms and the park is huge. Fontainebleau is calmer and less crowded than [Versailles](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/versailles), yet just as splendid. With children, the pond boats and easy forest trails are a hit. Return trains to Paris run roughly every half hour to hour, so check the timetable to avoid waiting at the station. ## Before you go Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Make sure it's not Tuesday - [ ] Check the train timetable - [ ] See the Gallery of Francis I - [ ] Photograph the horseshoe staircase - [ ] Walk in the Forest of Fontainebleau ## Places in Paris: compare and choose Places in Paris rated by YesGo. - [The Louvre](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/louvre) — YesGo score 62/100 (Yes, go) · 3 h 30 min · Timed ticket, online - [Hôtel de Ville](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/hotel-de-ville) — YesGo score 56/100 (Yes, go) · 30 min · Square free, halls by tour - [Palais Garnier](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/opera-garnier) — YesGo score 54/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 15 min · Visit ticket for the building - [Palais-Royal](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/palais-royal) — YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 40 min · Garden and courtyard free - [Palace of Versailles](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/versailles) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 6 h · Timed ticket, online - [Château de Vincennes](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/chateau-de-vincennes) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 45 min · Ticket for the keep and chapel - [Palace of Fontainebleau](https://yesgo.io/france/paris/fontainebleau) — YesGo score 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Palace ticket, gardens free ## Don't mix it up Fontainebleau is the palace and forest south-east of Paris; Versailles is Louis XIV's palace south-west of the capital. ## Tips - Closed Tuesdays. - Train from Gare de Lyon. - Gardens are free. - Forest after lunch. ## Questions ### How do I get to Fontainebleau from Paris? By Transilien R train from Gare de Lyon to Fontainebleau–Avon, about 40 minutes. ### How much is entry to the palace? See the palace website; the gardens are usually free. ### Which day is the palace closed? Usually Tuesday; check the official website. ### How long do I need? Two to three hours for the palace, a full day with the gardens and forest. ### How does Fontainebleau differ from Versailles? It blends eras from the Middle Ages to Napoleon III, with fewer crowds. ## How we checked Facts from English Wikipedia. Prices, hours, the closing day and journey times weren't confirmed with an official source — hence the 'checking' badge. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Palace of Fontainebleau, Fontainebleau - Palace official website, chateaudefontainebleau.fr --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.