Picture this a majestic chateau standing proudly before you. This is Chateau de Fontainebleau a royal residence steeped in history. Its imposing structure whispers tales of kings and queens emperors and popes.
For centuries Chateau de Fontainebleau served as a royal residence. It witnessed pivotal moments in French history. The first documented mention dates back to 1137 during the reign of Louis VII. A square keep remains the oldest part of the chateau. It stands in the Oval Court a testament to the original fortress.
Philippe IV le Bel the only King of France born and who died at Fontainebleau. He was born there in 1268 and met his end after a hunting accident in 1314. His life and death are forever intertwined with the chateau’s walls.
One royal chamber underwent a surprising transformation. It once belonged to Anne de Pisseleu the Duchess d’Etampes a favourite of King Francis I. In 1749 Louis XV decided to convert her private quarters into a staircase. The royal cipher on the wrought-iron banister still bears witness to this royal remodeling. Amazingly some of the original decor created by Le Primatice between 1541 and 1544 survived.
The chateau’s library located in the Diana Gallery boasts a distinguished past. It holds 16000 books. Its librarian was Jacques Joseph Champollion Champollion-Figeac the brother of the famous hieroglyph decipherer Jean-François Champollion. Jacques Joseph played a crucial role in his younger brother’s success. He served as the chateau’s librarian from 1852 until his death in 1867.
The Baptistery Gate commemorates a significant event. The future King Louis XIII was baptised there on September 14 1606 along with his sisters Elisabeth and Christine. King Henry IV spared no expense. The ceremony was lavish even the Pope sent his legate. A grand supper and fireworks concluded the day. The baptismal font itself a masterpiece of Islamic art is now in the Louvre Museum.
The White Horse Courtyard owes its name to a plaster statue. Catherine de Medici placed a white plaster statue of Marcus Aurelius under a dome. The statue a copy of the Marcus Aurelius statue in Rome was destroyed in 1626. The courtyard also holds the name Court of Farewells. It is where Napoleon bid farewell to his soldiers before his exile in 1814.
Napoleon remarkably refurnished the chateau in just 19 days. The French Revolution left it completely empty. When Napoleon decided to house Pope Pius VII there in 1804 frantic preparations ensued. The Emperor’s architect Pierre Fontaine described the challenge. Carpenters painters masons all worked tirelessly to prepare 40 master apartments 200 suites and stables for 400 horses. The Pope arrived on November 22 1804. Everything was ready on time.
The Diana Fountain features a bronze statue. It is a copy of the ancient Diana of Versailles now in the Louvre. Pope Paul IV gifted the Roman marble to Henry II in 1556. The original was moved many times. Louis XIV had it at Versailles. It returned to the Louvre in 1798. The Fontainebleau fountain has four dog statues. Water sprouts from a rather unusual place on their anatomy.
The Edict of Fontainebleau signed at Chateau de Fontainebleau in 1685. Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes. Religious tolerance for French Protestants ended. Temples were destroyed worship banned and pastors had to convert or flee. This act led to widespread resistance particularly in the Cévennes. Up to 150000 Protestants sought refuge in other countries.
The chateau’s Chinese Museum contains treasures. Some are gifts from Siamese ambassadors. Others are from the Summer Palace in Beijing. Franco-British troops looted it in 1860 during the Opium Wars. Empress Eugenie added many choice items to her collection. Victor Hugo vehemently condemned the looting.
The Chateau de Fontainebleau is more than just stones and mortar. It is a living testament to French history. Its walls echo with centuries of stories waiting to be discovered. A visit here is a journey through time.