Things to do in Fontainebleau

No. 4 of Fall Viewing Attractions in France

Fontainebleau Palace

Fontainebleau Palace is hailed as "an epitome of French history" and has been inscribed on the World Heritage List. Originally a royal hunting lodge, it was expanded into an important palace of the French Renaissance, and later many architects and artists participated in its renovation, leaving imprints of various periods' styles. Location Fontainebleau Palace is located in a small town about 55 km southeast of Paris, one of Parisians' favorite weekend getaway destinations, and Fontainebleau Palace sits here, surrounded by forest. The Fontainebleau Forest around the palace was originally a royal hunting ground, and now has become an outdoor sports base eagerly visited by bouldering enthusiasts, with the annual bouldering season in October attracting many climbing enthusiasts from around the world. Visiting route and highlights The main structures of Fontainebleau Palace include a main tower, the palace, courtyards, and gardens. The main attractions inside the palace include the ballroom, the conference hall, the chapel, the throne room, the Gallery of Diana, the Gallery of Francis I, the queen's bedroom, the Napoleon salon,Papal apartmentetc. Napoleon loved yellow, and his wife Josephine favored rose, so the overall color scheme of the palace interior was dominated by yellow and rose red. The palace also houses four museums, respectivelyThe Chinese Museum, the Napoleon I Museum, the gallery, and the furniture museum. Among them, the Chinese Museum houses a large collection of precious artifacts from the Old Summer Palace, displaying over a thousand art treasures including ancient paintings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, gold and jade jewelry, and carvings, though it is sometimes closed to visitors.In Western museums, the Fontainebleau Palace is where collections and exhibitions are housedOld Summer PalaceSo many treasures. #White Horse Courtyard#The White Horse Courtyard is the main entrance of Fontainebleau. The horseshoe-shaped staircase here is a sight of Fontainebleau Palace; it was here that Napoleon delivered his speech upon his abdication.#China pavilion#Entering the building from the right side of the courtyard brings you to the ticket office; after buying tickets, don't forget to pick up an audio guide. Then follow this long gallery straight ahead to begin your visit to Fontainebleau Palace. Near the end there are stairs—don't rush upstairs yet; continue straight ahead and you'll reachChina pavilion. If you cannot findChina pavilionlocation, you can consult the staff.China pavilionThe doors are generally closed, and you need to close them after entering. A prominent position in the hall displays a gold pagoda approx. 2 m tall, with emeralds inlaid on every tier throughout, which, together with the one extant inInside the Forbidden City in Beijinggolden pagodas are basically similar. There are also two precious gilded chime bells and various otherOld Summer Palacetreasures. Currently, the Chinese Museum has been closed for a long time due to construction. On March 1, 2015, 15 exhibits were stolen from Fontainebleau Palace, among which wasOld Summer PalaceOld collection cloisonné qilin and golden mandala.#Other treasures#FromChina pavilionGo out and head upstairs to continue enjoying many rooms such as the Napoleon I rooms and the Throne Room (Napoleon's throne is quite mini). You can also see the Gallery of Francis I, whose lower half features wainscoting of golden-yellow fine wood carvings about 2 m high, while the upper half is set off by bright faux-marble figure reliefs against multiple exquisite Renaissance-style frescoes, making the entire gallery both splendid and elegant. After visiting the main exhibition halls, go down to the first floor where the exit is; there is a souvenir shop here, and outside you can stroll through the courtyard and gardens. In fact, walking a short distance from the exit can also take you back toChina pavilion, but here there are only hints for entering the courtyard. When visiting the courtyard, beyond the indoor views, the courtyards of Fontainebleau Palace are also distinctive, with a uniquely decorative style combining wood paneling, plaster reliefs, and murals. The Diana Garden is dotted with flower beds and sculptures, along with small, exquisite fountains, and orange trees grow throughout the garden, making it a pleasant place to stroll. You can also wander freely through the large park and green woods. There is a tea room inside Fontainebleau Palace where you can dine, and the town also has many restaurants with moderate prices.

No. 11 of Fall Viewing Attractions in France

Forest of Fontainebleau

The real natural green lung of the Paris region, the Forest of Fontainebleau, attracts 12 million enthusiastic tourists every year to stroll, climb, hike or go for a long walk. In the green space of Yiyi, you can also see people who came to pick mushrooms in the early morning. The landscapes and landforms in the forest are diverse and colorful, and sandstones of different sizes and steepness can be seen everywhere, attracting rock climbers from all over France, who can fully train themselves in the forest of Fontainebleau climbing level.

No. 5 of Best Things to Do in Seine-et-Marne

Diana Garden

The Fontainebleau Castle Garden is located in Fontainebleau, France. It is a royal garden with a long history and picturesque scenery. As part of the Fontainebleau Castle, this garden is not only a masterpiece of French horticultural art, but also a must-visit place for tourists to explore French history and culture. The Fontainebleau Castle Garden is famous for its exquisite design and diverse landscapes. The layout of the garden combines the traditional French geometric symmetry style with the natural landscape, showing the superb skills of horticultural design. The lakes and fountains in the garden add dynamism and vitality to the entire landscape, making it an ideal place for tourists to relax and enjoy nature. The Fontainebleau Castle Garden is not only a place for visual enjoyment, but also a witness to history. The garden was once a leisure place for successive royal members of France and witnessed many important historical events and figures. Visitors here can not only feel the beauty of nature, but also experience a strong historical atmosphere.

Foret De Barbizon

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Disneyland Paris

Welcome to an extraordinary new world where you can feel like a true citizen of Arendelle, experience your dream Frozen story, and enjoy all-new attractions, themed dining, immersive boutiques, and more! Starting spring 2026, Disneyland Paris embarks on a new chapter with a completely reimagined park. Discover extraordinary worlds, including the enchanting new Frozen-themed land, and awaken your spirit of adventure! Disneyland Paris is an unmissable part of any trip to the French capital!

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris

Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris stands on the Île de la Cité on the banks of the Seine, built approx. between 1163 and 1250, and has witnessed the historical changes of Paris. This Gothic-style cathedral is world-famous due to the poetic description by French writer Victor Hugo in his novel of the same name, "Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris". Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris stands on the Île de la Cité in the middle of the Seine, with construction beginning in 1163 and largely completed by the mid-13th century. It is a masterpiece of French Gothic architecture and widely known due to Victor Hugo's novel of the same name. A fire in 2019 destroyed its spire and wooden roof structure, but after years of restoration, the cathedral reopened to visitors in December 2024, with the bell tower's summit access resuming shortly after. This phoenix-like structure has regained its status as one of Paris's most popular destinations. The cathedral's façade features three portals adorned with reliefs and statues depicting biblical stories, along with a row of royal stone figures, showcasing Gothic sculptural artistry at its finest. Inside, the restored stone walls and vaulted ceilings, now free of centuries-old soot, appear strikingly bright, while the three rose windows dazzle with color—particularly the southern one. The grand organ, with nearly 8,000 pipes and restored over several years, is equally worth admiring. Climbing the bell tower is a highlight: visitors ascend over 400 steps, passing the fantastical "gallery of chimeras" added during 19th-century renovations, where stone carvings of beasts and mythical creatures perch at railings—including the famous pensive "Stryge" gazing over Paris. The 17th-century "Emmanuel" bell, weighing over ten tons and rarely rung except on major occasions, can also be seen. From the nearly 70 m-high rooftop terrace, panoramic views encompass both banks of the Seine, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Sacré-Cœur, while the restored wooden framework and rebuilt spire can be examined up close between the towers. Practical tips: The tower climb requires moderate physical fitness, with narrow stairs and some crouch-walking sections; advance reservations for time slots are recommended due to limited capacity. Beneath the square in front lies the Crypte Archéologique de l'Île de la Cité, displaying urban relics from Roman times onward, with its entrance on the square. As the cathedral remains an active place of worship, visitors are asked to maintain quiet during masses.

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Louvre Museum

Experience the charm of the filming locations for movies like "The Louvre" and "The Da Vinci Code". • Appreciate the magnificent presentation of the treasures of ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian civilizations here. • Visit the giant glass pyramid that combines classical palace and modern architectural styles. The Louvre was founded in 1204. This castle underwent several expansions and was converted into a museum after the French Revolution. The museum's collection encompasses art treasures from ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, ancient Rome, and various periods of Europe. The collection is quantity, and only a small portion is usually on display, yet it already constitutes an art journey spanning thousands of years. The museum boasts numerous treasures, among which the "Three Treasures of the Louvre" are most famous: the Venus de Milo, the Mona Lisa, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. △The marble of the Venus de Milos is so pure and white, yet so moving. Is it Aphrodite? Or Amphitrite? When the Venus de Milo was brought to the museum, the art restorers' first thought was to restore Venus's missing arms. However, in order to avoid distorting the work's authenticity, they ultimately abandoned this idea. The missing arms pose a significant challenge to identifying the figure in the statue. In ancient Greek art, the identification of deities is typically based on the objects held or iconic elements. Initially, there were many questions regarding the goddess's identity. Could she be Amphitrite, the sea goddess particularly revered on the island of Milos? Or, as her semi-nude, sensual body suggests, could she be Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty? The fact that she wore jewelry tilts the scales of identification towards Aphrodite, the Venus of Roman mythology. Later, near the statue's excavation site, a hand holding an apple was discovered—an element in the artistic depiction of Venus, and moreover, the hand sculpted with the apple is made of the same Paros marble as the statue. △ For centuries, Mona Lisa's famous enigmatic smile has captivated and inspired countless sighs. Mona Lisa gazes upon the viewer with her legendary smile, behind her a beautiful natural landscape stretching into the distance. The Mona Lisa painting theft of the century On August 21, 1911, panic gripped the museum! The Mona Lisa had vanished! Newspapers across the country published reports and offered a reward for its discovery. For over two years, the Mona Lisa remained untraceable. Then one day, an Italian art dealer contacted the authorities, and someone had delivered the famous painting, sought by the entire world, to him! The visitor was Vincenzo Perugia, a glass craftsman who had previously worked at the museum. The Mona Lisa was recovered, and her fame soared even higher. △The Winged Victory of Samothrace appears to float in mid-air, its form light and graceful. Originally offered as a tribute to the gods, it stood high in a temple on the Greek island of Samothrace, just as it now stands atop the Daru Steps. The statue depicts the moment when the winged goddess Nike, the goddess of victory, descends upon the bow of a ship. "Clubbing Hall Star" When the Winged Victory of Samothrace was installed on the Daru Steps in 1883, the background decorations designed for it were far more elaborate than they are today, with the dome covered in glittering mosaic patterns. However, these decorations failed to win favor, with some critics even comparing the Winged Victory to a cabaret star. Finally, in 1934, faux stone wallpaper covered the original decorations, creating a solemn and elegant atmosphere.

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Musee d'Orsay

The Musee d'Orsay, hailed as the "temple of Impressionism," offers visitors the chance to admire numerous Impressionist masterpieces by great artists and experience the magic of color and light. In the museum square, six bronze statues represent the six continents of the world; inside the museum, beneath the large glass dome, natural light pours through the glass onto each painting. Bathed in this natural light, one can more vividly experience the charm of the artworks and the creative passion of the artists. The palace of art, the holy land of "Impressionism" Across the river from the Louvre, the Musee d'Orsay houses a collection of approx. over 4,000 artworks, including a vast array of French art created between 1848 and 1914, spanning painting, sculpture, decorative arts, and photography. Its collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings enjoys worldwide renown—masterpieces such as Monet's "Gare Saint-Lazare," Renoir's "Bal du moulin de la Galette," Van Gogh's "Starry Night Over the Rhône," and Manet's "Olympia" are all displayed here. Locals often say that for art created before 1848, one should go to the Louvre, and for modern art after 1914, one should go to the Centre Pompidou—and this museum bridges the two periods perfectly. Stepping inside, traces of the former railway station are still faintly discernible. At the center of the ground-floor hall runs a sculpture promenade, with exhibition rooms on both sides mainly displaying paintings and sculptures from the mid-19th century. At the far end stands a large cutaway model of the Paris Opera (Palais Garnier), meticulously revealing the opera house's interior structure. Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings are concentrated on the top floor, converted from the hotel rooms on the upper level of the former railway station. The space feels more intimate, and the natural light from the south-facing skylights evokes the lighting conditions under which the painters created their works. Six bronze statues stand in the square, each representing one of the world's six continents—relics of the original 1878 Exposition Universelle. Get a close-up view of the iconic clock at Musee d'Orsay

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Eiffel Tower

·Climb the Eiffel Tower-a cultural symbol of France and one of the landmark buildings in Paris ·Overlook the beautiful city scenery of Paris, the whole Paris is at your feet, like a huge map in front of you. ·Learn about the tower's more than 100-year history through objects, posters, photos, sculptures, paintings and videos at the observation deck on the ground floor △ A new cultural path(1st floor): Screens, touch screens, displays, digital albums, reproductions of items, etc. allow you to find out about all aspects of the Eiffel Tower, many little known. △ Your arrival on the 2nd floor is marked by amazement: Paris in all her splendour greets your incredulous eyes. You will enjoy clear views of all of the French capital's monuments: the Louvre, Gran Palais, the bends in the Seine, Montmartre, Invalides, Notre Dame, etc. △ After a spectacular ascent in glass-walled lifts, you're finally here. 276m up with only the antennae above you, Paris lies at your feet. The noise of the boulevards can't reach you here, but the wind catches you and your heart begins to race.

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Seine-et-Marne

Chateau de Vaux-Le-Vicomte

On the platform surrounded by the moat stands the famous Palace of Vallevikon (also translated as the Viscount Castle), which was a turning point in the fate of the then Chancellor of the Exchequer Nicholas. Together, the castle's designers used their genius to create this architectural jewel. The central area of the castle contains a square foyer and an oval living room that extends out towards the French garden. The flanks on either side of the castle are private rooms decorated with brushed stucco, gilding and paintings.