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- Dec 8, 2024, 2:33 PM
- 🌧 8 °C
- Altitude: 246 ft
FranceÎle-de-FranceFontainebleau48°23’57” N 2°42’5” E
Fontainebleau

We were up at 7:30am and it was still raining and still windy.
We were in no particular hurry today as it was set to rain all day so we didn’t leave our aire until 10am.
We had another 120 mile drive and today we didn’t take the toll roads and it was a 3 hour drive and we stopped on route at a Leclercs supermarket for breakfast and diesel.
We finally arrived at our park up in the town of Fontainebleau and our sleep spot is at the entrance to the Chateau de Fontainebleau. It’s 50 miles south of Paris, and it’s not really an aire but a 24hr parking area but it’s free and for us it’s perfect as it’s still on route.
After a quick lunch we headed out for a walk in the rain and managed to walk the entire grounds of the chateau. It is a massive place, with gardens, fountains and huge water gardens. In it’s day riding up to this place must have been amazing.
The Château de Fontainebleau, is one of the largest and most historically significant royal residences in the country. It is renowned for its stunning architecture, elaborate interiors, and rich history, spanning over eight centuries of use by French monarchs.
Historical Overview
1. Medieval Beginnings: The site was originally a royal hunting lodge in the 12th century under King Louis VII.
2. Renaissance Expansion: King Francis I transformed the château in the 16th century, heavily influenced by Italian Renaissance styles. He invited Italian artists like Rosso Fiorentino and Primaticcio, who introduced the Mannerist style to France. This led to the creation of the School of Fontainebleau, a major artistic movement.
3. Baroque Period: Subsequent kings, including Henry IV and Louis XIII, expanded and embellished the château, adding new wings, gardens, and decorative elements.
4. Napoleonic Era: Napoleon Bonaparte considered Fontainebleau his “true home” and renovated it extensively. It was here that he signed his first abdication in 1814.
The Chateau is now a UNESCO world heritage site and it has served as a residence to over 30 monarchs from medieval kings to Napoleon 3rd.
Our walk of the grounds covered 7km and we got back to Wanda at 4pm and we weee both soaked through but it did feel good to stretch our legs. We spent the rest of the afternoon drying out and sheltering from the rain.Read more