Fontainebleau is a lovely historical town south of Paris, France (55.5 km - 34.5 miles). It is renowned for its large and scenic Forest of Fontainebleau, a favorite weekend getaway for Parisians, as well as for the historical Château de Fontainebleau of the kings of France, which attracts crowds of tourists.
Understand
The castle as a smaller version of the history of France
Fontainebleau is often called the capital of French history or as Napoléon III described: "Here is the true residence of kings, the house of the centuries”. Fontainebleau can claim with this title for, there is no other castle in France, which can praise itself to having accommodated 34 sovereigns from Louis VI to Napoléon III. All these French sovereigns came in Fontainebleau in autumn, which were the hunting season and the regular appointment of the Court. The large forests around the castle were excellent hunting grounds and are still very beautiful when all red and yellow in an autumn sunset.
The name of Fontainebleau is always been connected to hunts. According to legend "la Fontaine-Belle-Eau" or "the Fountain-Bliaut" would be the name a dog owner gave to fountain in a clearing in the heart of the forest, he discovered during a hunt. It is close to this clearing, that a first hunting manor was built around 1247.
The main attraction of the small village of Fontainebleau is its 16th century castle which is actually the first renaissance building outside Italy. It has an impressive staircase and a delicate gallery with stucco ornaments and a huge formal garden. It was built by Francois Ier after his return from Italy; this King was also the source of the Paris as it is now. The castle holds four main treasures. The first one is the throne of Napoléon in its full magnificence. It looks exactly as in David’s painting of the Emperor and is the one Hitler made a special visit to in order to sit on it. The second one is a wealth of secret rooms and corridors (some extending half way through town) that sadly only the Museum Director has the keys for. Thirdly, it has one of the few remaining “Tenez” courts where the word and game “Tennis” originates from. “Tenez” loosely means “to you” which is what the player serving would do on his serve in order to warn the adversary he was about to throw the ball. This is very much different to the current game when a ball less than 180km/hr is rare. Finally, the castle is surrounded by a set of beautiful gardens and a park with a canal where Kings used to show their new and latest battleships.
Throughout town you may also find beautiful buildings that exemplify different periods of the town’s history.– architectural experts are still to this very day printing entire volumes on the most minute of design details. Some of those buildings are remnants of the old cavalry or castle staff housings that were later turned into the post office or the town hall. The more majestic one, an old “Hotel particulier” from the XVth century, is on the central place. Every passerby peers up to its beauty without fail. By chance, it’s been a luxury hotel for more than a century now and the rooms are every bit as beautiful as the building is on the outside.
Forest
The forests around the town are beautiful and form the second jewel of the town of Fontainebleau. Formed over 35 million years ago as a river receded, it is rich in both flora and fauna – each showcasing their beauty differently in a myriad of ways every season. It is easy to get to it from the place Napoléon Bonaparte on bicycle (maybe 10-15 minutes) although a drive would allow for more choice. Maps of the forest can be bought locally and the forest has many interesting paths that were first designed in the XIX’th century. There are countless beautiful walks to be had which Parisians and tired Tourists use to refresh themselves and dream of times past when Kings and Queens from the world over (even the Russian Tsar Peter Ist) have roamed in search of game.
The area is also well known for the boulders that lay scattered around. They yearly attract thousands of sport climbers.
Education
The town is so close to Paris and yet so protected by its forest that Harvard professors in the sixties started the now world renowned INSEAD MBA school. While it is the top university in town, other schools and universities are also present there.
http://www.insead.edu/
Getting there
Getting there is very easy from Paris.
By train
You can use a train from Paris Gare de Lyon with at least two trains an hour. The ride lasts about 35 minutes and stops only in the towns of Melun and Bois-le-Roi before arriving in the green town of Fontainebleau (you will feel the fresh forest air as soon as you come out). From there you can use a bus to the Castle (about 15 minutes) although buses seem to stop around eight in the evening.
To find the last stop, you can either look for the Place Napoléon Bonaparte or the Castle as each stop is in the centre.
By car
The total distance from centre to centre is about 65 km or an hour. From Paris, follow signs towards the south, then signs for Lyon and the A6. After about 35 minutes you will see signs for Fontainebleau. Once entering the city there is a tall apartment block which is a remnant of some architectural style a lot in the city would like to see disappear. However, it still forms part of the town’s history – as much as the castle even if in much less splendor.
Get around
Orientation in town is very easy as there is only one main artery called the “Rue Grande” which goes from the Castle to the other end of town, passing by the central “Napoléon Bonaparte” place. Many shops, bars and restaurants abound on either sidewalk for every possible taste. Walking is by far the best option as the most you’ll walk without stopping (very difficult thing to do considering all the pretty windows to look at) would be 20 minutes.
Do
There is many cultural, sporting, entertainment or shopping activities one could do. For more information on this, the best available and updated website is http://www.fontainebleau-tourisme.com
The town is also famous for a horse race track and its Sunday morning food market.
As if the town didn’t offer enough as it is, there are many other attractions in the surrounding region. Towns like Barbizon (home of the artists), Milly-la-Foret, Samois-sur-Seine, and many others…
Buy
There are plenty of shops from high-end pastry shops to the latest French fashion cloth wear and jewellery.
Eat
The town boasts many different restaurants from Mexican to Japanese, Pizza to Fish-only. Of course there are Brasseries (the most authentic being, quite unknowingly called the “Franklin Roosevelt”) and very good French restaurants (the best one being in the Hotel Napoleon).
Drink
There are plenty of places to drink, from modern ambient bars to traditional French bars, English pubs and Mexican bars.
Sleep
There are plenty of places to sleep in Fontainebleau but the three best places are the Aigle Noir Hotel, the Napoléon Hotel and the Hotel of London.
http://www.hotelaiglenoir.fr/
http://www.hotelnapoleon-fontainebleau.com/
http://www.hoteldelondres.com/
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