Free walking tours in Fontainebleau and what to see

Must-sees

Fontainebleau is about 60 kilometres south-east of Paris and revolves around its palace, home to the kings of France for centuries and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Francis I transformed it in the Renaissance with Italian artists, and his gallery, decorated with frescoes and stucco, is one of the jewels of the visit. You will also see the ballroom, the Trinity Chapel and the apartments used by Napoleon and his court, with the throne room. In the White Horse Courtyard, by the horseshoe staircase, Napoleon said farewell to his guard before leaving for exile on Elba.

The gardens deserve a long stroll: the great parterre designed by Le Nôtre, the Carp Pond, the Garden of Diana and the English Garden. Beyond the palace begins the Forest of Fontainebleau, a vast expanse of oaks, pines and sandstone boulders. It is famous for bouldering and is criss-crossed by waymarked trails. Close by is Barbizon, the village where the 19th-century landscape painters settled.

Free tours and guided visits

Fontainebleau has no regular free walking tours. What you will find on Civitatis is a ticket for the palace, so you can explore the grand apartments at your own pace. The forest is best explored on your own, following the waymarked trails from the town or from spots such as the Gorges de Franchard. If you are in Paris, many day trips combine Fontainebleau with other palaces in the region.

How long to spend

Allow a long half day for the palace and gardens, because the apartments tour is extensive and the gardens invite you to walk. If you come by train from Paris, you can do it in a day and return in the evening. With a second day you have time for the forest, a hike or bike ride, and a stop in Barbizon. Climbers usually stay several days.

Where to stay

Central Fontainebleau, around the palace, is the most convenient: hotels, guesthouses and apartments with restaurants and shops close by, and the forest a few minutes away. Avon, right next to the town, has the train station and somewhat quieter options. If you want countryside, Barbizon and the villages on the edge of the forest offer country cottages and hotels with gardens, more practical if you are driving.