Château de Fontainebleau: Tickets, Opening Hours, Free Gardens and Access from Paris
The Château de Fontainebleau costs €17 to visit (free for under-18s) and is open every day except Tuesday, from 9:30 to 17:00 (18:00 from April to September); take the train from Paris Gare de Lyon, then a bus. Located in Seine-et-Marne, 61 km southeast of Paris, it has more than 1,500 rooms set within a vast garden and park of 130 hectares.
Highlights
The Cour d'Honneur
Set right at the heart of the Château de Fontainebleau, the Cour d'Honneur (Court of Honor) instantly transports you to the 18th century. To the north it leads to the Ministers' Wing, to the east to the Jeu de Paume hall, and at its center to the Renaissance Pavilion.
The Royal Library
The royal library was established at Fontainebleau in June 1544 by order of François I. It holds manuscripts and books from the library of Blois.
Chapelle de la Trinité
This former church, founded by Saint Louis, plunges you straight into the world of the Mathurin monks.
The Imperial Theatre
Built by Napoleon III, the Imperial Theatre has reopened to the public after 150 years of closure. Because of the site's fragility, however, it will likely never be possible to stage plays there again.
Practical info
Tips
- Entry ticket 17 € (15 € reduced): State Apartments and the Napoleon I Museum; audioguide 4 €, guided tour extra (+7 €).
- Free for under 18s, EU citizens aged 18-25 and on the first Sunday of the month (except July and August); the gardens and Park are free all year.
- Places to eat are dotted around the estate; in the gardens: horse-drawn carriages, real tennis, hot-air balloon, boating and ice cream.
- For children, the "Enquête au château" activity (secret passages and hidden rooms) starts at 5 €, and a game booklet can be downloaded free online.
- Young visitors can rent a costume for the day for 8 €.
- To compare with another great royal residence, see the Château de Versailles; the medieval town of Provins, a UNESCO site, can be visited in a day.
How to get there
The best way to reach the Château de Fontainebleau is to take the A6 toward Porte d'Orléans, then take the Fontainebleau exit. Signs will then guide you to the château. If you prefer to drive, you can rent a car for the day. Alternatively, take a mainline train from Paris Gare de Lyon toward Montargis, Montereau, or Laroche-Migennes, get off at "Fontainebleau-Avon" station, then take bus line 1 toward Les Lilas to the "Château" stop.
Opening hours
Prices
Our guides that feature it
Nearby
See on the map →
Comments
No comments yet.