Palace of Fontainebleau (France). Fontainebleau Palace: history, description

France miraculously combines seriousness and romance. It is sure to please both the inveterate lover of antiquity, and the traveler, who appreciates the beauty and grandeur of French architecture, and the ordinary tourist.

A special charm conceals the famous palaces of France (Fontainebleau, Louvre, Versailles). Many royal residences tourists ignore, focusing only on Paris. Meanwhile, only 60 kilometers from the capital of France are the magnificent palace and the park of Fontainebleau.

Location:

The famous residence of the French kings is located in the heart of the historical region of Ile-de-France, in the department of the Seine and Marne, about 60 kilometers from the country's capital. Nearby is the city of Fontainebleau, due to its appearance of the palace. You can get to the royal residence from Paris by car or by train.

Fontainebleau Palace in France: history, description, attractions

For the first time the future residence of French kings in the 12th century is mentioned. At that time it was a country hunting lodge. Forests of Fontainebleau, rich in game, from time immemorial were hunting grounds of the rulers of the country. Then the house grew to the size of the manor, and soon a small castle was erected in its place.

The construction of the palace in its present form began under Francis I Valois, who decided to build on the site of a desolate fortress a country residence intended solely for recreation. The king was primarily attracted to the opportunity to hunt in the dense forests of Fontainebleau and its environs.

With the name of Francis I the Renaissance in France is closely connected. On trips to Italy, he got acquainted with the works of Italian masters and was fascinated by them. Rather, carried away by the Renaissance, he invited to France many famous artists, architects and scientists. Among them was Leonardo da Vinci. Thanks to Francis I the medieval hunting lodge turned into a luxurious palace and park ensemble.

The front entrance to the palace of Fontainebleau is made in an unusual form - a horseshoe. On this extravagant staircase, the royal residence can easily be distinguished from other palaces of French rulers.

The interior of Fontainebleau is amazing. The luxurious galleries are decorated with frescoes on the walls and paintings by famous masters of painting on the ceilings. Especially fabulous is Diana's gallery, the ceiling of which is decorated with scenes from mythology dedicated to the goddess of hunting. Now there is a library here.

The salons of the palace of Fontainebleau are decorated with wonderful tapestries.

The Trinity Chapel is another magnificent building, part of the ensemble of the royal residence. The decoration of the vault was occupied by Martin Frémine. In her on both sides of the altar are statues of saints - patrons of French kings. A chapel was built in the 16th century.

History of construction

The palace of Fontainebleau (France, the Ile-de-France region) was created under the guidance of the skillful Italian architects, among which was the famous Benvenuto Cellini. It was built in the style of Mannerism, which dominated at that time in the art of Italy. It is characterized by dramatic images, expressive and extravagant decor, bright colors and elongated proportions of figures.

Leaving only one tower from the previous building, the Italian masters erected a magnificent building that became the symbol of the Renaissance in France. It should be noted that the palace of Fontainebleau, unlike other palaces of European rulers, was deprived of any protective structures. Partly this was due to the fact that the French king, being an excellent diplomat, had practically no enemies.

Under Francis, most of the economic buildings, the gates of the palace, the chapel, and the dance hall were built.

After the death of Francis I the palace of Fontainebleau was not abandoned. Its construction was continued under the guidance of the son of the deceased ruler, Henry II. A covered gallery was added to the palace, the vault of which rests on the supports, which constitute a beautiful arcade-embrasure system. Later, changes in the appearance of the palace were made by Henry IV and Louis XIV. During their reign, terraces, pavilions in the park and a new wing of the building were built.

The Fontainebleau Palace in the Île-de-France during the Great French Revolution

The shocks that the country experienced during the years of revolution and terror touched the country residence of French kings in Fontainebleau. Almost all the situation was taken out, and the military school was located in the residence. In 1803, Fontainebleau first visited Napoleon Bonaparte with the inspection. After that he decided to make the palace his residence. Invited architects spent almost the whole period of the emperor's stay in power reconstructing the palace. New stables were built, the Diana gallery was redone, the work of fountains was restored, the English park was defeated. In the courtyard of the White Horse the farewell of the great commander with his veteran guardsmen after the abdication of the throne took place. The last time Napoleon visited the palace of Fontainebleau after his escape from the island of Elba.

Now visitors to the palace can see the premises associated with the great ruler of France. These are the imperial bedrooms, the Throne Room, the Small Bedroom (in which Napoleon preferred to spend most of the time) and the salon in which he signed his renunciation of power.

Nowadays

The Palace of Fontainebleau in France today is a magnificent architectural monument of the past centuries. Anyone can visit it at a convenient time and admire the luxurious halls, galleries and salons, stroll through the wonderful park and the English garden and see the Karp pond. No wonder in translation from French, the name of the palace sounds like "A wonderful source".

In addition to the park and the English garden, visitors to the castle can make a stroll through the forest near Fontainebleau. For this, it is equipped with walking and bicycle paths.

Conclusion

The Palace of Fontainebleau is a luxurious and cozy residence of French kings, sheltered in shady forests near Paris. The magnificent interior decoration of the palace ensemble, beautiful parks and a wonderful pond make Fontainebleau a pleasant place for a leisurely excursion.