Are you looking for a beautiful day trip from Paris? Then, Fontainebleau Castle is the place to go! Let’s start discovering what you’ll need to know and the things to do on a trip to Fontainebleau.
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Why should you visit Fontainebleau?
Fontainebleau castle is one of the biggest and most beautiful castles of France and one of the most furnished in France and Europe with over 1500 rooms!
The first mentioned date of Fontainebleau castle is 1137. In 1527, King Francois I decided to make the castle his principal residence; however it was mostly ruined. He decided to renovate it; his purpose was to make Fontainebleau the “new Rome”. After renovation, the castle became the residence of 34 kings and two emperors of France until the 19th century; making it the only castle that was inhabited by every French monarch for eight centuries!
The castle has a vast park and so many gardens of 130 hectares! Famous Italian artists, such as Primaticcio and Rosso Fiorentino, participated in the renovation and offered amazing masterpieces to King Francois I. The palace’s interior will amaze you with its beautiful French Renaissance style and masterpieces. It is a place to discover the history behind Napoleon I, Louis XIV, Marie Antoinette, Napoleon III and Eugenie and many more!
Finally, in 1981, the castle and its garden were named as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
How to get there from Paris?
1. You can take the “line R” train from Gare de Lyon in Paris: the trains normally operate from 6 am till midnight and there are on average one or two trains per hour to Fontainebleau. You have to stop at Fontainebleau Avon stop. Once you get there, you can take the bus line 1 to arrive at the castle or you can walk there for 30 minutes. The bus takes around 15 minutes and costs 1.90 euros for one way.
If you have a “Navigo” pass for zones 1 to 5, then you can use it to go for free! The “Navigo” is the pass for public transport in Paris or in the Ile de France region in general. However, if you don’t have it, you should buy a ticket to Fontainebleau Avon. The price is around 20 euros for both ways. Another option is to buy a Mobilis pass for zones 1 to 5 for a price of 17.80 euros and you can use it also in Paris transports (bus, tram, metro etc.) and for the buses in Fontainebleau. The Mobilis pass is valid from the time you buy it until 5.00 am the next day.
2. You can drive for around 1 hour from Paris via A6.
Things to do in Fontainebleau
Visit Fontainebleau castle
A trip to fontainebleau has to include the castle. It opens from 9:30am to 6pm from April to September (Last admission at 5:15 pm) and from 9:30am-5pm from October to March ((Last admission at 4:15pm). You will need around 2 hours to visit the palace.
The full price is €12, the reduced price is €10 and if you buy the ticket one hour before closing, there is a standard price of €8. The price for the video guide is €4. The price for the Chinese museum is €3. Moreover, there is a free admission for under 18 and EU residents of any nationality aged 18 to 26. Additionally, on the first Sunday of each month, the admission is free; except for July and August.
You can also book a guided tour. The full price for a 30 minutes to one hour tour is €5, the reduced price is €3. The full price for a 90 minutes tour is €7, the reduced price is €5.
The castle is closed on January 1st, May 1st and December 25th.
Have walk and a small picnic in the gardens
“ Etang aux carpes”
Rent a boat and enjoy a nice tour in the pond called “ Etang aux carpes” or “ Carp pond” (From May till September). You can also have a horse carriage ride or a tour in the small train.
This beautiful castle is at the heart of Ile-de-France forest in the Seine-et-Marne department so you can also go for a hike there (Train stop: Forêt de Fontainebleau).
Did you like our article about a day trip to Fontainebleau? Also, do you have any favorite place to discover France’s history and culture? Let us know in the comments below and always share with us your travel adventures!
Would you like to discover an amazing seaside getaway from Paris? Check out our ultimate guide to visit Dieppe!
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