This large, 1500 room Chateau was built miles from Paris with the first structure on the land appearing in the early 12th century. The jeu de paume court, built under Henry IV and rebuilt almost identically in the 18th century, is an invaluable record of the recreational facilities provided for the kings at Fontainebleau. A UNESCO World Heritage site and one of France’s largest châteaux, the magnificent Château de Fontainebleau boasts a rich resume of royal inhabitants, including Henry IV, Louis XV, and Napoleon. Being in the Seine-et-Marne department just outside of Paris, The Royal Chateau of Fontainebleau is one of the largest French royal chateaux. He then attempted suicide after the realization that his empire had come to an end. Just south of Paris lies the gorgeous commune of Fontainebleau, France. This town is renowned for its historical importance as it is home to one particularly important attraction: the Château de Fontainebleau. Château de Fontainebleau Place du général de Gaulle - 77300 Fontainebleau 77 - Seine-et-Marne Château Fontainebleau Blanc 2019. Of the many births that took place during this century, one of the key events was the birth of Louis XIII on September 27, 1601. Welcome to French Quarter Magazine (FQM) ! We hope you will enjoy the work of our photographer friends and we are looking forward to your feedback. The Palace of Fontainebleau or Château de Fontainebleau, located 55 kilometres (34 miles) southeast of the center of Paris, in the commune of Fontainebleau, is one of the largest French royal châteaux. It took its name from one of the springs, the fountain de Bliaud, located now in the English garden, next to the wing of Louis XV. The castle, which has been officially recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site, is enormous and has a seemingly endless supply of galleries, apartments, chapels, gardens and more to visit. It is said that Frances I was extremely selective in who he allowed to visit the new additions. There are seven eras that make up the history of Fontainebleau, starting with the Mediaeval Era. ... Château originally built in 1137 and added to in 17th, 18th and 19th Centuries. To visit Fontainebleau in France, is to venture back in time and into one of the most famous, historic and luxurious French residences in the country. Required fields are marked *. Will you be among the next? Château de Fontainebleau - site officiel. Château de Fontainebleau was first built in the 12th century as a hunting lodge for the French kings, but fell into disrepair by the 15th century. Rockefeller, Jr., who aspired to restore this abused property to another level of magnificence after World War I; his monetary donations brought life back into the property. the gallery of diana at château de fontainebleau in fontainebleau, france - 19th century - chateau de fontainbleau stock illustrations Pair of Stools, 1786-1787. Only a single medieval tower survived the energetic Renaissance-style reconstruction undertaken by François I (r 1515–47), whose superb artisans, many of them brought from Italy, blended Italian and French styles to create what is known as the First School of Fontainebleau. History states that the gallery constructed under Francis I was a novel architectural creation; with stucco framed frescoes and art masterpieces adorning the walls, it is perhaps the initial introduction to the Renaissance of France. While Henry II resided at the Chateau, he installed his own personal imprints upon the structure that are most easily seen inside the Salle de Bal, or ballroom. It was used as a hunting lodge as well as a House. Right of the main staircase. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our, 10 Reasons Hotel Barging Makes the Perfect Post-Lockdown Escape, Introducing our New Solo Traveller Cruise, An Insider’s Guide to the History of Barges. © Copyright 2021 European Waterways Ltd | Cartography © Copyright 2014 Euromapping (France) | All Rights Reserved, Our website uses cookies to ensure that you get the best possible experience. All in all, though, it’s a great and very well-written piece. I stumbled on the world champion at REAL (COURT) Tennis practicing on the only 1 of such courts active in France…This at the Palace….to the It is on the grand staircase at the entrance of the Chateau where Napoleon bid farewell to his army in the Court Adieux on April 20, 1814. It was under Louis XIV that Andre Le Notre replanted the extensive gardens and in 1724 a new theatre was constructed in the Belle-Cheminee Wing. This royal and imperial city benefits from a majestic castle, inspired by the Italian Renaissance. It became a favorite residence and hunting lodge of the Kings of France because of the abundant game and many springs in the surrounding forest. A Short History of Château de Fontainebleau. Entouré d'un vaste parc, le château, inspiré de modèles italiens, fut un lieu de … Similar to many historical residences, almost every inhabitant of Fontainebleau made some type of improvement or modernization to the Chateau, to arrive at the structure that stands today. Château de Fontainebleau Fontainebleau, France Part of a series on the eight Royal Houses commissioned in 1718, this representation of an elevated view of Fontainebleau provides an imposing panorama of the château, its gardens, the village and the forest seen from the south. Though the Chateau was his preferred residence, over the 10 years of the First Empire he only stayed at the Chateau for a total of 170 days. Thanks! Similar to his uncle, Napoleon III preferred Chateau de Fontainebleau and quite often resided at the Chateau until 1869. The Capétiens , Valois , Bourbons , Bonapartes and Orléans , all members of French ruling dynasties, have lived within these walls from the middle ages to the second empire. Cour d'Honneur - main entrance to the chateau. Château de Fontainebleau ... Fontainebleau was built as a comfortable base from which the kings of France could enjoy hunting in the thick forests. Château de Fontainebleau was first built in the twelfth century as a hunting lodge for the French kings, but fell into disrepair by the fifteenth century. Château de Fontainebleau was first built in the twelfth century as a hunting lodge for the French kings, but fell into disrepair by the fifteenth century. Though it was originally built in 1137 as a royal residence and hunting lodge, of which only the medieval castle keep remains, the “Fontainebleau style” began in 1528 with François I, who built what is now the central core of the château, ushering in the Renaissance style in France. The earlier surviving structures are more utilitarian, the additions contain more decadence and whimsical caprice, the empire era improvements are more constrained by taste and beauty. We appreciate your support. Following this, the Chateau was inhabited by Phillip III and Isabella of Aragon. Chateau de Fontainebleau today. At the heart of a park of 40 hectares park, this castle is a magnificent private property of “brick and stone” style, flanked by two small pavilions which were built in the early seventeenth century on the site of an old feudal … Napoleon refurbished the entire Chateau completely; it was to become his second country residence and an imperial palace, it was also home to his Military Academy. A separate, distant location would better give the impression of modernization and progression to the people and would also differentiate the ruling styles. During the times between 1544 and 1556, Catherine de Medici gave birth to six of their ten children at Fontainebleau despite the fact that her husband’s mistress also lived at the Chateau. It seeks to help expand the influence of French culture, the knowledge of history, culture and all the arts as well as to transmit and safeguard the skills, love of the arts and technology through cultural events, seminars, conferences with diplomats, business women & men and artists for our members and our readers. The First Empire saw Napoleon restore the Chateau to its original grandeur; thanks to him it remains one of the best furnished public Chateau in Europe. In the sixteenth century King Francois I orchestrated its restoration and it was transformed into the castle we know today. See more ideas about fontainebleau, chateau, castle. This is one of the few Chateaus that has been almost continuously inhabited since its creation. It was actually an American, J.D. Your email address will not be published. The wedding between Louis XV and Marie Leszczynska was held at Fontainebleau on September 5, 1725, and is considered the most important event of the century. She enjoys living near the ocean, traveling and French pastries. A DAY AT CHÂTEAU DE FONTAINEBLEAU By Guillaume Picon Photography by Eric Sander. It was freed by the allied forces in 1944 and was used as NATO headquarters from 1945 until 1965. Legendary designer Pierre Cardin, genius of fashion and business, who delighted us, dies at 98! Un château fort est mentionné a cet emplacement pour la première fois en 1137, et agrandi par Saint Louis (1214 - 1270). Become a Subscriber to French Quarter Magazine by clicking on the sign up button and receive our two monthly newsletters, as well as other special offers from time to time. In the 16th century King Francois I orchestrated its restoration and it was transformed into the … It was at Chateau de Fontainebleau that Napoleon announced his divorce from Josephine. Built in the 12th century, the palace displays a remarkable variety of architectural styles, all set within 130 hectares (321 acres) of … A complete detailed listing of occurrences would be a book in itself, of which I’m sure one is written somewhere. Art & Culture Gastronomy FQM aims to connect a diverse community to provide publicity, create general awareness, inform, entertain and inspire readers and offers a cultural journey filled with eclectic articles and interviews written by many dedicated contributors on art, culture & diplomacy. The medieval castle and subsequent palace served as a residence for the French monarchs from Louis VII to Napoleon III. Appellation: AOP Côte de Provence. Royal Chateau de Fontainebleau The Royal Chateau de Fontainebleau is a large castle where the Renaissance was introduced to France from 1528. Maureen Youngblood was born and raised in the United States and is currently living in California. Your email address will not be published. Interviews The first château on this site was built in the early 12th century and enlarged by Louis IX a century later. Palais et parc de Fontainebleau. The 17th Century saw much activity at the Chateau, the new Cour des Offices, the grand entrance to the town, and many buildings were added to the estate, along with extensive gardens. This residence has been a base for the … Château de Fontainebleau ; when one hears the name, a sense of royalty and aristocratic history come to mind. This residence has been a base for the French royal family – particularly its kings – since its humble beginnings as a hunting lodge, and is known to have been a favourite dwelling of King Henri II, King Henri IV and Napoleon Bonaparte. One can find the initials HD, for Henri II, and his mistress, Diane De Poitiers, creatively hidden in the room’s decoration. Chateau de Fontainebleau Through the Centuries. “The true home of kings, the house of ages” (Napoleon in Saint Helena, August 1816) With over 1500 rooms at the heart of 130 acres of parkland and gardens, Fontainebleau is the only royal and imperial château to have been continuously inhabited for seven centuries. The interior of the Chateau is richly adorned with art of every kind: gilded carvings, frescoes, tapestries, intricate wood carvings, paneling, and famous paintings. The central tower dates back to 1169 when the exiled Archbishop of Canterbury consecrated the Chateau chapel. Schloss Fontainebleau is located in the town of Fontainebleau about 67 miles south of Paris. by Maureen Youngblood. The Chateau was used as a German operations site during World War II. The town is situated in the Forest of Fontainebleau, 2 miles from the left bank of the Seine.The famous château southeast of the town is one of the largest residences built by the kings … The … Nowadays it is surrounded by 130 acres of park and gardens, composed of more than 1500 rooms, and exceptional embellished with decorations and … During the Renaissance, many alterations took place such as the construction of new buildings and detailed decoration of the interior. Now emblematic of the Château de Fontainebleau, the famous horseshoe-shaped staircase dates from the reign of Louis XIII, based on a Renaissance model, and was the work of Jean Androuet du Cerceau. The Aile des Ministres (16th century), Jeu de Paume (17th and 18th centuries), Aile de l'Escalier en Fer de Cheval (16th to 19th century), Chapelle de la Trinité and Aile Louis XV (both 18th century) frame this courtyard.. A metal grid delineates the 4th side from the outside. When … The town is enriched with a population of 17,000 people enclosed by an area of 175 square Make sure to leave us a comment and your feedback. It was in this new gallery that he was said to have displayed Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and The Virgin of the Rocks, two centuries before they found their final home in the Louvre in 1797. Fashion Travel, Correspondents and photographers He wore the key to the new gallery around his neck in order to control access to the collection of artwork displayed inside. Wherever you live, if you are a francophile or French and you would like to join and volunteer to our team of contributing writers, editors, photographers then we would love to hear from you. Fontainebleau, town, Seine-et-Marne département, Île-de-France région, northern France, 40 miles (65 km) south-southeast of Paris by road. 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