Palace of Fontainebleau, Renaissance palace in Fontainebleau, France.
The Palace of Fontainebleau is a château and museum in Fontainebleau with over 1500 rooms spanning medieval architecture to the Renaissance period. The complex includes galleries with frescoes, state apartments with carved wooden ceilings, and a large courtyard surrounded by several wings.
Louis VII began using the estate in the 12th century as a royal hunting lodge, which Francis I transformed into a large Renaissance château in the 16th century. Napoleon later used the complex as his main residence and signed his abdication here in 1814.
The name comes from the spring Fontaine Belle-Eau, whose source lies in the forests near the château. Visitors today notice the mix of Italian ornamentation and French architecture in the interiors, created during the reign of Francis I.
The complex opens daily from 9:30 AM, with extended summer hours and guided tours in several languages through the state rooms. Access to the gardens is free and suitable for a walk before or after visiting the museum.
The Gallery of Francis I displays one of the earliest uses of stucco and frescoes in France, introduced by Italian artists in the 1530s. The technique later spread throughout Europe and influenced the decoration of royal palaces for generations.
Location: Fontainebleau
Architectural style: Renaissance architecture
Address: place du Général-de-Gaulle
Opening Hours: Monday 09:30-16:15; Wednesday-Sunday 09:30-16:15
Phone: +33160715070
Website: https://chateaudefontainebleau.fr
GPS coordinates: 48.40222,2.70056
Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:03
Photo license: CC BY 3.0
The castles surrounding Paris provide insight into several centuries of French history. From medieval fortresses to Renaissance palaces to Napoleonic residences, each structure represents different architectural styles and periods. These buildings served as homes for French kings, emperors and noble families, and today house significant collections of furniture, artworks and historical objects. Many are surrounded by extensive gardens and grounds that are also open to visitors. The collection spans a wide geographic area from Versailles to the Loire Valley, offering destinations that range from half-hour to two-hour drives from Paris. Properties like Versailles and Fontainebleau attract millions of visitors annually, while smaller estates like Château de Breteuil or Château de Condé provide quieter alternatives. Some, like Château de Guédelon, offer unusual perspectives on medieval construction methods, while restored sites such as Château de Pierrefonds demonstrate 19th-century interpretations of medieval architecture.
Castles and palaces from different periods and regions reveal how architecture adapted to military needs, royal ambitions, or religious purposes. Some were built as fortresses, others served as residences or symbols of power. Construction styles range from medieval defenses to grand estates of later centuries. Each structure carries the mark of its time and its builders. This collection includes places such as Neuschwanstein in Bavaria, Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, and the Alhambra in Granada. It also features Himeji Castle in Japan, the Potala Palace in Lhasa, and Prague Castle. Some sites stand on cliffs or in mountains, others lie in river valleys or near towns. Visiting them shows how defense, living space, and display came together in one building.
This guide lists real locations where multiple Netflix productions have been filmed around the world. From New York prisons turned into filming sets to medieval fortresses in Spain, and historic palaces in Eastern Europe, these natural settings have allowed creative teams to bring their stories to life. The collection includes sites as varied as Highclere Castle in England, which hosted the filming of Downton Abbey, the Duomo in Milan seen in Master of None, and the Ikoyi Bridge in Lagos appearing in Sense8. It also features the Georgia Aquarium used for Stranger Things, Washington Square Park in New York for Jessica Jones, and the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest for espionage productions. These authentic locations offer visitors the chance to see the original settings of their favorite series.
Gallery of Francis I
46 m
Chinese Museum
250 m
Municipal theater of Fontainebleau
233 m
Hôtel de Ferrare
298 m
France and England Hotel
303 m
Londres Hotel
338 m
Musée national du Château de Fontainebleau
0 m
Palace Theatre of Fontainebleau
216 m
Hôtel du Tambour
382 m
Launoy Hotel
341 m
Hôtel de la Surintendance des Bâtiments
271 m
Marteau House
319 m
Hôtel de la Galère
353 m
Immeuble, 2 rue du Château
214 m
Immeuble, 3 rue Royale
299 m
Immeuble, 5 rue Royale
327 m
Hôtel de la Prévôté
201 m
Diana of Versailles, Jardin de Diane
60 m
Odysseus, Palace of Fontainebleau
110 m
Monument to Rosa Bonheur
197 m
Saltarello dancer, Palace of Fontainebleau
74 m
Chapelle Saint-Saturnin du château de Fontainebleau
55 m
Place du Général-de-Gaulle
281 m
Chapelle de la Trinité
83 m
Deux chiens de Fô. Château de Fontainebleau
104 m
Montebello Street
220 m
Immeuble, 4, 6 rue Royale (Fontainebleau)
383 m
Petit train du château de Fontainebleau
211 mVisited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
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