Fontainebleau is the only castle inhabited by all the sovereigns from the 12th to the 19th century, and the most furnished of the French royal castles. With over 1,500 rooms, it features Renaissance masterpieces commissioned by Francis I, the lavishly decorated interiors of Marie Antoinette, the state apartment of Napoleon I, the styles preferred by Napoleon III and Eugenie… A royal residence for hunting and getting away from it all, it tells us all about the monarchs’ official and intimate court life.The unguided visit of the castle includes the Napoleon I Museum and the Grands Appartements.
The Imperial Theatre, the Petits Appartements, Madame de Maintenon’s Apartments and the Turkish Boudoir can only be seen on guided tours.
Expect to spend about 2 hours visiting the château.
The chateau
The chateau is open every day except Tuesday, January 1st, May 1st and December 25th.
From October to March: 9.30 am to 5 pm (last access at 4.15 pm).
From April to September: 9.30 am to 6 pm (last access at 5.15 pm).
The park and gardens are open, under the usual conditions, free of charge.
The restaurant is open every day for lunch.
As part of the preparations for the next exhibition, the Salle des Gardes will be closed from September 23rd to October 7th. Come and admire the exhibition ‘Oudry, hunting painter. The Royal Hunts of Louis XV' from October 13th!