Lonely PlanetJul 9
A guide to Fontainebleau, France
Fontainebleau, southeast of Paris, is a town loved by artists, rock climbers and royalty. Plan your visit with this guide.
Family-run hotel in the city center
23 things in this story
- Château de FontainebleauSight1900-room château home to 34 kings and two emperors
- Château de Vaux-le-VicomteSightPredates Fontainebleau, inspired Château de Versailles
- Forêt de FontainebleauTrain stationWorld-famous for bouldering, cycling, walking, horseback riding
- EuroVelo3TrailCycle route serpents along the Seine and the Loing
- Velectrik MoovPlaceRents electric bikes for cycling forest paths
- La Petite ReinePlaceRents traditional pedal road bikes
- river LoingSightRiver for cooling off, canoeing, wild-water swimming
- Jeu de paumeSightReal tennis court, only historic one in France still in use
- Bleau.infoPlaceWebsite for detailed bouldering area information
- Hippodrome de la SolleSightBienvenue sur le site officiel de l'hippodrome de la Solle.
- Grand ParquetSightOne of Europe's largest equestrian stadiums
- river SeineSightRiver for water skiing
- river YonneSightRiver flowing through the region
- ApikopaPlaceLocation de canoës kayak Ile de France, Seine et Marne, Moret sur loing, Grez sur loing, Montigny sur Loing.
- Fontainebleau marketMarket100-plus stall market held Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday mornings
- Aigle NoirHotelLuxury hotel in the city center
- Hôtel de LondresHotelFamily-run hotel in the city center
- L'AxelRestaurantMichelin-starred restaurant with set-lunch menu
- Top LoisirsPlace
- Elsewhere
- ChâteaubusPlaceMelun, FranceShuttle bus from Melun train station to Vaux-le-Vicomte
- Verrerie d’artSightSoisy-sur-Ecole, FranceArtistic glass workshop
- Nature Loisir EvasionPlaceLa Genevraye, FranceRents kayaks on the Loing river
- Club Nautique de ChartrettesPlaceChartrettes, FranceOffers water skiing on the Seine