Château de Fontainebleau and Gardens Guided Day Trip from Paris

By Wandria

Free cancellation available

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Features

Free cancellation available
5h
Mobile voucher
Instant confirmation
Multiple languages

Overview

Step beyond the streets of Paris and uncover one of France's most extraordinary royal treasures on a guided journey to the magnificent Château de Fontainebleau. Travel comfortably by train with your expert guide and explore the palace that served as the residence of French monarchs from the medieval kings to Napoleon Bonaparte.

Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Château de Fontainebleau is one of France's largest and best-preserved royal palaces. While Versailles often captures the spotlight, Fontainebleau offers an equally remarkable experience with fewer crowds, allowing you to fully appreciate its grand architecture, lavish interiors, and fascinating royal history. Unlike Versailles, Fontainebleau was continuously inhabited by every French monarch from the 12th to the 19th century, making it a unique witness to nearly 900 years of French history.

Your experience begins in Paris, where you'll meet your guide before travelling together by train to Fontainebleau.

Activity location

Chateau de Fontainebleau
- Pl. du General-de-Gaulle,
- 77300, Fontainebleau, France

Meeting/Redemption Point

Place Louis Armand
- Place Louis Armand
- 75012, Paris, Île-de-France, France

Check availability

Dates

Travellers

Guided Tour In English

5h
English

Language options: English

Starting time: 12:30 PM

Price details

NZ$362.72 x 1 AdultNZ$362.72

Total

Guided Tour in French

5h
French

Meeting Point: Gare de Lyon

Language options: French

Starting time: 12:30 PM

Price details

NZ$362.72 x 1 AdultNZ$362.72

Total

Guided Tour in Spanish

5h
Spanish

Language options: Spanish

Starting time: 12:30 PM

Price details

NZ$362.72 x 1 AdultNZ$362.72

Total

What's included, what's not

Expert tour guide
Entrance fee
Public transport

Know before you book

- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transport options are available nearby
- Specialised infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The Napoleon Museum and some guided tours such as the Imperial Theatre or the Turkish boudoir are not accessible to people with reduced mobility due to the presence of steps.
- The castle provides wheelchairs and walking sticks free of charge in exchange for identification. These cannot be reserved in advance and are distributed on-site upon request to the reception staff. This equipment is not intended to be taken outside the castle into the gardens.
- The public toilets are located in the Louis XV wing, upstream from the entrance to the castle. Specific toilets are located in the reception areas and can be requested from the staff.
- The Grand Apartments are accessible to people with reduced mobility. The lift can be used upon request to a receptionist.
- The Diana and English gardens are accessible to people with reduced mobility. Access to the other gardens is difficult due to the paving stones.
- Pets are not allowed, even on a leash, in the castle courtyards and gardens. Only assistance dogs for people with disabilities and/or vulnerabilities are accepted.
- Free lockers are available for storing strollers, baby carriers, large bags, umbrellas, and other items prohibited by the visitor regulations. The establishment accepts no responsibility for the theft of valuables left in the lockers.
- For conservation and safety reasons, bulky strollers and back carriers are prohibited on the castle tour routes. Front-facing baby carriers and stroller-style carriers can be made available in the changing room.

Activity itinerary

Chateau de Fontainebleau

30m
Admission ticket included

Introduction to Fontainebleau Palace Your visit begins with an introduction to the fascinating history of the château. Learn how a medieval fortress evolved into a Renaissance masterpiece under King Francis I, who transformed the palace with the help of renowned Italian artists, including Rosso Fiorentino and Primaticcio. Discover how successive rulers—including Henry IV, Louis XIII, Louis XIV, Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Napoleon I, and Napoleon III—each left their mark on the palace, creating one of the richest royal residences in Europe. Hear the dramatic storey of Napoleon Bonaparte's abdication in 1814 and his emotional farewell to the Imperial Guard in the Cour d'Honneur before departing for exile on the Island of Elba.

Chateau de Fontainebleau

1h
Admission ticket included

The Royal State Apartments Explore the magnificent Grands Appartements, where generations of French kings and emperors lived, governed, and entertained. During the tour, you will discover: - The Royal Chapels - The Royal Apartments - The Pope's Apartment, where Pope Pius VII stayed during his captivity - The Renaissance Rooms, showcasing masterpieces of the French Renaissance - Napoleon I's Imperial Apartment - The elegant 19th-century galleries Your guide will explain the symbolism, architecture, artwork, and royal traditions that shaped court life through the centuries.

Chateau de Fontainebleau

30m
Admission ticket included

Explore Napoleon I's Fontainebleau Palace Step into the palace that Napoleon I called the "True Home of Kings." Accompanied by your expert guide, explore the magnificent Imperial Apartments, including the only surviving Napoleonic Throne Room still preserved in its original location. Discover how Napoleon transformed the château into his favourite imperial residence after the French Revolution, welcomed Pope Pius VII before his coronation, and governed the French Empire from these historic rooms. Hear the dramatic storey of Napoleon's final days in power, from his abdication in April 1814 to his emotional Farewell to the Old Guard in the Cour d'Honneur before departing for exile on the Island of Elba. Throughout the visit, your guide will bring the palace to life with fascinating stories about Napoleon's rise, reign, and fall, making Fontainebleau one of the most significant sites of the First French Empire.

Chateau de Fontainebleau

30m
Admission ticket included

Napoleon I Museum Continue your visit to the Napoleon I Museum, home to one of France's finest collections dedicated to the First Empire. Admire an exceptional collection of: - Imperial furniture - Paintings and sculptures - Ceremonial weapons - Royal costumes - Decorative arts and Sèvres porcelain Through hundreds of remarkable objects, you'll discover Napoleon's rise to power, his coronation, military achievements, and his final days at Fontainebleau before his exile.

Chateau de Fontainebleau

1h
Admission ticket included

The Palace Gardens and Park End your experience with a walk through the beautiful gardens and park surrounding the château. Covering over 130 hectares, the estate features: - The Grand Parterre, one of the largest formal French gardens designed by André Le Nôtre - The elegant Diana Garden - The picturesque English Garden - The Grand Canal, created during the reign of Henry IV - Historic courtyards and panoramic viewpoints perfect for memorable photographs Your guide will explain how each garden reflects the artistic styles and tastes of different royal periods while highlighting the evolution of landscape design over several centuries.

Location

Activity location

Chateau de Fontainebleau
- Pl. du General-de-Gaulle,
- 77300, Fontainebleau, France

Meeting/Redemption Point

Place Louis Armand
- Place Louis Armand
- 75012, Paris, Île-de-France, France

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