UNESCO Site Château de Fontainebleau and Gardens Guided Tour
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. Explore the palace that served as the residence of French monarchs from the medieval kings to Napoleon Bonaparte. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Château de Fontainebleau is one of France's largest and best-preserved royal palaces. While Versailles palace 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 Palace, 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
Stop 1
Explore the magnificent Château de Fontainebleau, a former medieval fortress transformed by Francis I into a Renaissance masterpiece and later expanded by generations of French monarchs and emperors. Discover the grand royal apartments, Renaissance rooms, royal chapels, and Napoleon I’s Imperial Apartments, including the historic throne room and rooms associated with his final days in power. Learn about Napoleon’s abdication in 1814 and his emotional farewell to the Imperial Guard before exile. Continue through the Napoleon I Museum, home to imperial furniture, artworks, costumes, weapons, and Sèvres porcelain. Discover how these collections reveal the grandeur of the First French Empire and Napoleon’s rise, reign, and fall. End your visit in the château’s spectacular gardens and 130-hectare park, including the Grand Parterre, Diana Garden, English Garden, and Grand Canal.
What’s included
- Professional Licensed Tour Guide (only if Guided tour selected)
- Entrance fee
Not included
- Food & Beverages
- Parking
- Any extra paid activities at the chateau.
Meeting and pickup
The guide will be waiting inside the Chateau near the entrance. The exact google coordinates are: 48°24'06.9"N 2°41'50.4"E
Before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized 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 elevator 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.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers. However, on the day of the tour, the group will be divided into groups of 7-9 people with a dedicated Professional Licensed Tour Guide for each group. This will make this tour a small-group (semi-private or private) tour.
- For the 9:30 AM Tour: Please enjoy a good breakfast before arriving. The tour continues into the afternoon lunch time, and having a proper meal beforehand will help you stay comfortable and energized throughout.
- For the 11:00 AM Tour: We recommend having lunch before the tour. Since we do not schedule meal breaks during the experience, eating in advance will help you stay focused and enjoy the tour without feeling tired and hungry.
- Please note that depending on the crowd and time, the tour guide can make some changes to the itinerary in order to provide the best possible experience to the travellers. Tourists can also ask the guide about their priorities and their interests for specific attractions prior to the start of the tour.
- For groups larger than 15 travelers, please contact us directly before booking so we can discuss the available options and ensure the best experience for your group. Please send us an email (find the email address at "Supplied by Wandria" section) with desired date, time, guide language and group size.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Check the policy for your selected date and option before booking.
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