If walls could talk then those at the Palace of Fontainebleau would have plenty to say.
This incredible place has more than 1500 rooms and is the only royal and imperial chateau in France that has been continuously inhabited for eight centuries. From the 12th century, what was a royal hunting lodge in a vast forest was renovated, extended and embellished by various Kings, Queens, Emperors and Empresses until it became the extraordinary, enormous castle you can visit and ogle at today…
A very cherished Chateau
Francoise 1 (1494-1547) had a huge influence on the transformation of Fontainebleau in the 16th century which in turn influenced the architectural development of France and Europe. He is often known as the first Renaissance King of France and he introduced the style of renaissance architecture to Fontainebleau by bringing artists of renown from Italy including Leonardo da Vinci.
He ordered a major transformation of the castle, supervised by master builder Gilles le Breton. Much of the medieval buildings were demolished and the Italian artists who worked on it introduced Greco-Roman themes, amazing frescoes and gloriously colourful paintings.
After the major work carried out by Francis I the chateau became an elegant and prestigious chateau for the French Court. Here he held famous bathing parties and hung the Mona Lisa over the bathtub. He installed a Michelangelo statue in the gardens and had grottos created.
Louis XIV who loved a bit of bling also loved Fontainebleau and fed the giant carp in the pond. Marie Antoinette found it came close to her ideal of a country palace though she built her perfect dream home at Versailles. It is said she once gambled for a straight 36 hours at Fontainebleau adding fuel to the fire of whispers that the Queen was a degenerate who cared not about the poverty of the people.
Napoleon said this was his favourite home above all others.