You can look at all the historical dramas you like, but Keira Knightley and Co. can't get at what it must have been in the Château de Fontainebleau. This sovereign residence for eight centuries was home to all kinds of splendour and grandeur. The walls cannot speak, but they can show you how it was during the weddings of the French royal family. Get priority entry and avoid the snake (just as royalty would have done).
The Château de Fontainebleau, surrounded by 130 hectares of beautiful parks and gardens, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981, although the first documentary mention was made in a royal charter in 1137. A visit here means enjoying the imperial atmosphere.
You will be impressed by the opulent furnishings of the superior apartments designed for Napoleon III's court. See Marie Antoinette's bed, Napoleon's throne and François Gérard's portrait of Empress Josephine in her coronation regalia in 1807. Stroll through the galleries where the courtyard meets, claps and promenades, and visit three decadent chapels and four art museums.
Napoleon himself renovated the castle after the revolution in 1814 and described it in his memoirs as "the true home of the kings". Louis XIII spent a happy childhood here and learned how to hunt, play tennis and draw. With over 1500 rooms, Château de Fontainebleau was and is a magnificent labyrinth of French beauty, history and architecture.
Opening hours: Nov - Mar: 09:30 - 17:00, Apr - Oct: 09:30 - 18:00. Last admission 1 hour before closing time.
Under-18s and EU residents under 26 get in free with a valid ID. Free admission on the first Sunday of each month, except July and August.
The security check is mandatory for all visitors. Big bags and suitcases aren't allowed inside and there are no lockers available.
The ticket is booked at the first opening time, but can be redeemed all day long.
Château de Fontainebleau, 77300 Fotainebleau, Paris. Show your smartphone ticket at the entrance, after the security check.
This offer cannot be cancelled.
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