The Overlooked Paris: Fontainebleau
Three must-see places
When you think of France, what city or place comes to mind?
Chances are you would first think of Paris.
And why wouldn’t you? Paris is the capital of France and an important financial, political, and cultural hub of the world. Whenever I travel to France, spending a night in Paris is a must for me.
All this attention on Paris, however, ignores other French places worth visiting. In particular, there is one I believe gets overlooked: Fontainebleau.
(To be accurate, Fontainebleau is situated in Paris’ metropolitan area, but located 50 kilometers from the center of Paris.)
I want to share 3 significant places in Fontainebleau and why they are worth visiting.
Fontainebleau Forest (Forêt de Fontainebleau)
After visiting countless historical buildings in Paris, spending time in nature was a breath of fresh air (pun intended!). Spending time in the forest was a refreshing change of pace for me. That being said, this 50,000-acre forest also has a rich history.
The forest served as a royal hunting ground, leading Francois I of France to develop the nearby castle into what would become Château de Fontainebleau. Today, it is a designated UNESCO site.
With 200 miles of trails and boulders for climbers, the Fontainebleau forest is worth exploring for those who enjoy hiking and love nature.
Palace of Fontainebleau (Château de Fontainebleau)
Château de Fontainebleau served as a royal residence for French Kings between the 12th and 19th centuries. After the abolition of the monarchy, the palace was designated as a national museum in the early 1900s and later a UNESCO Heritage Site in 1981.
A Renaissance-style château, the palace was primarily designed by Italian artists in the 16th century. As a result, it played an important role in introducing the Italian Renaissance style to France.
The residence primarily served as a retreat for the French monarch and his family, in order to escape Versailles (the center of the French court). It was also the site of numerous historical events, such as Napoleon I’s abdication in 1814.
“True home of kings, house of centuries” — Napoleon I
I visited Château de Fontainebleau while studying abroad in Paris. As a history lover, exploring such a beautiful residence was totally my thing. Seeing the places where important government decisions were made and the royals resided was surreal.
INSEAD Business School
Okay, graduate school doesn’t scream tourist. Why would you visit a graduate school on vacation? Holidays are meant to be an escape from education and the world!
Yes, yes, I get it
At the time, I was pursuing my undergraduate degree, and the business school happened to be situated on my way to visit the Palace of Fontainebleau.
It probably helped that I was considering pursuing a graduate business degree in the future!
INSEAD is considered one of the best business schools in the world, ranked alongside Harvard. It has produced the second-highest number of CEOs of the world’s largest 500 companies.
Fun fact: When the school was founded, its classes were first held at Château de Fontainebleau!
So, I didn’t technically visit the school. But if you’re in Fontainebleau and interested in visiting famous universities, INSEAD is the way to go :)
Final Thoughts:
Despite visiting Fontainebleau for only a day, it remains memorable to me. I was glad to get out of the center of Paris and explore somewhere new. If any of the above interests you, it’s definitely worth visiting Fontainebleau!
