55.5 km from Paris is Fontainebleau. A mere suburb? Non. Surrounding the town is the Forest of Fontainebleau, a very popular place for folks from Paris to come catch some fresh air and see the wonders of the natural world. Of course there is also one of France’s finest and largest Chateaux, the Palace of Fontainebleau. You’ve probably heard of it.
While the current building you see on the site was constructed between 1522 and 1540, it was Napoleon who had Fontainbleau fixed up after it had been emptied in the French revolution, then went into exile there in 1814 before being hauled off to Elba. The grandeur you see in the palace today is largely do to efforts of the diminutive emperor.
You will seek out some grandeur of your own when planning your Paris/Fontainebleau experience, won’t you? There’s that sturdy looking place over there to the right in St Germain sur Ecole, 18 km from Fontainebleau. You’ll have your own swimming pool and fenced grounds as well.
Check out Paris/Fontainebleau holiday get away – Sleeps 07.
Why not live like a king? You never know when the next revolution will happen. We can’t go on bailing out the rich forever, can we?
If you’re planning a trip for next year, The Pays de Fontainebleau Tourist Office and the Ministry of Justice are organizing guided tours of the National Museum of Prisons as of next February. While you’re inside, unshackled preferably, they say you can read the handwritten letters of the Marquis de Sade.
You don’t get to do that every day.


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