Fontainebleau combines forest with a distinctive cultural landscape. The Château and Park of Fontainebleau have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981; a historic municipal theatre and a regularly held market also shape the destination. When looking for a hotel, it is helpful to first consider what you want your stay to focus on: trails and scenery, the history of the château or city life.
Forest, Trails and Landscapes
The Forest of Fontainebleau has 1,500 kilometres of trails, including 400 kilometres of marked trails. It is also home to 200 climbing routes; the climbing area is known as “les rochers de Fontainebleau”. Hiking and climbing are two different ways to make the forest the focus of your trip. Before hiking or climbing, check local conditions and any current restrictions.
The Sentier des Gorges de Franchard winds through heathland, a jumble of rocks and tall oak forests, bringing several characteristic landscapes together along a named trail. The forest is also distinguished by its diverse landscapes and remarkable biological diversity.
The marked hiking trails have a history, too: in 1842, Claude-François Denecourt laid out the world’s first marked hiking trails in the forest, known as the “sentiers bleus”. Their origins add a cultural and historical perspective on hiking to the area’s natural features.
The Château Park and the Link to Avon
The park and gardens of the Château de Fontainebleau cover 130 hectares. The park is open year-round, 24 hours a day, and provides a link between Fontainebleau and Avon. Temporary closures may occur in exceptional circumstances. Keep this possible restriction in mind when planning a visit to the park.
Art History and Theatre
The Château de Fontainebleau became one of Europe’s most active art centres and attracted artists including Rosso and Primaticcio. As well as its World Heritage status, the town’s cultural themes therefore include art history.
The Théâtre municipal de Fontainebleau offers a different architectural highlight. Its auditorium seats 650, and the theatre also has a ballroom. It was built between 1910 and 1912. Since 23 April 1991, the Théâtre municipal, its forecourt and its ballroom have been protected as historic monuments. This protection explicitly includes the forecourt and ballroom.
Market on Three Mornings a Week
The Fontainebleau market takes place three times a week: on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday mornings. More than 100 food and other vendors sell their goods there. If you are planning a visit to the market, check the schedule in advance. Its regular weekly schedule gives you a specific morning to use as another point of reference when planning your stay.
Fontainebleau offers a range of different highlights: forest trails and climbing routes, the landscapes of the Sentier des Gorges de Franchard, the art of the château and the architecture of the theatre. Deciding which of these you want to make a feature of your stay is a useful starting point for planning your trip.
Discover more destinations: Passy-Sur-Seine, Échouboulains, Nonville, Chessy, Claye-Souilly, Lognes, Serris, Coulombs-En-Valois.
For the regional travel overview: Seine-Et-Marne.
