From Paris Château de Fontainebleau and Gardens Guided Day Trip

Duration5h - 8h

Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before

Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away

TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted

LanguagesEnglish, French, Spanish

Group sizeUp to 20 travelers

Overview

Step beyond the streets of Paris and uncover one of France's most extraordinary royal treasures on a guided journey to the magnificent Château de Fontainebleau. Travel comfortably by train with your expert guide and explore the palace that served as the residence of French monarchs from the medieval kings to Napoleon Bonaparte.

Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Château de Fontainebleau is one of France's largest and best-preserved royal palaces. While Versailles often captures the spotlight, Fontainebleau offers an equally remarkable experience with fewer crowds, allowing you to fully appreciate its grand architecture, lavish interiors, and fascinating royal history. Unlike Versailles palace, Fontainebleau was continuously inhabited by every French monarch from the 12th to the 19th century, making it a unique witness to nearly 900 years of French history.

Your experience begins in Paris, where you'll meet your guide before traveling together by train to Fontainebleau.

Options

Two Castles in a Day With Host

Two Castles in a Day: 8 Hours: This tour option isn't guided. Explore the Château de Fontainebleau & Vaux-le-Vicomte on your own, with support from a Host.

Two Castles in 1 Day (Spanish)

Tour w/ Spanish Licensed Guide: This is 8-Hour tour. Château de Fontainebleau & Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte with Professional Spanish Licensed Guide

Guided Tour in French

Château de Fontainebleau: This is 5-Hour guided tour.

Guided Tour In English

Château de Fontainebleau: This is 5-Hour guided tour.

Self-Guided Tour With Host

Château de Fontainebleau: This is 5-Hour tour. So, tourists will explore the Château de Fontainebleau on their own, with support from a Host.

Guided Tour in Spanish

Château de Fontainebleau: This is 5-Hour guided tour.

Two Castles in 1 Day (English)

Tour w/ English Licensed Guide: This is 8-Hour tour. Château de Fontainebleau & Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte with Professional English Licensed Guide

What's included

Entrance fee
Public transportation
Professional Licensed Tour Guide (only if Guided tour selected)

Food & Beverages
Parking (If coming directly to the chateau.)
Any extra paid activities at the chateau.

What to expect

Chateau de Fontainebleau
15m · Admission ticket included

Introduction to Fontainebleau Palace

Your visit begins with an introduction to the fascinating history of the château. Learn how a medieval fortress evolved into a Renaissance masterpiece under King Francis I, who transformed the palace with the help of renowned Italian artists, including Rosso Fiorentino and Primaticcio.

Discover how successive rulers—including Henry IV, Louis XIII, Louis XIV, Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Napoleon I, and Napoleon III—each left their mark on the palace, creating one of the richest royal residences in Europe.

Hear the dramatic story of Napoleon Bonaparte's abdication in 1814 and his emotional farewell to the Imperial Guard in the Cour d'Honneur before departing for exile on the Island of Elba.
Chateau de Fontainebleau
35m · Admission ticket included

The Royal State Apartments

Explore the magnificent Grands Appartements, where generations of French kings and emperors lived, governed, and entertained.

During the tour, you will discover:

- The Royal Chapels
- The Royal Apartments
- The Pope's Apartment, where Pope Pius VII stayed during his captivity
- The Renaissance Rooms, showcasing masterpieces of the French Renaissance
- Napoleon I's Imperial Apartment
- The elegant 19th-century galleries

Your guide will explain the symbolism, architecture, artwork, and royal traditions that shaped court life through the centuries.
Chateau de Fontainebleau
35m · Admission ticket included

Explore Napoleon I's Fontainebleau Palace

Step into the palace that Napoleon I called the "True Home of Kings." Accompanied by your expert guide, explore the magnificent Imperial Apartments, including the only surviving Napoleonic Throne Room still preserved in its original location. Discover how Napoleon transformed the château into his favorite imperial residence after the French Revolution, welcomed Pope Pius VII before his coronation, and governed the French Empire from these historic rooms.

Hear the dramatic story of Napoleon's final days in power, from his abdication in April 1814 to his emotional Farewell to the Old Guard in the Cour d'Honneur before departing for exile on the Island of Elba. Throughout the visit, your guide will bring the palace to life with fascinating stories about Napoleon's rise, reign, and fall, making Fontainebleau one of the most significant sites of the First French Empire.
Chateau de Fontainebleau
35m · Admission ticket included

Napoleon I Museum

Continue your visit to the Napoleon I Museum, home to one of France's finest collections dedicated to the First Empire.

Admire an exceptional collection of:

- Imperial furniture
- Paintings and sculptures
- Ceremonial weapons
- Royal costumes
- Decorative arts and Sèvres porcelain

Through hundreds of remarkable objects, you'll discover Napoleon's rise to power, his coronation, military achievements, and his final days at Fontainebleau before his exile.
Chateau de Fontainebleau
30m

The Palace Gardens and Park

End your experience with a walk through the beautiful gardens and park surrounding the château.

Covering over 130 hectares, the estate features:

- The Grand Parterre, one of the largest formal French gardens designed by André Le Nôtre
- The elegant Diana Garden
- The picturesque English Garden
- The Grand Canal, created during the reign of Henry IV
- Historic courtyards and panoramic viewpoints perfect for memorable photographs

Your guide will explain how each garden reflects the artistic styles and tastes of different royal periods while highlighting the evolution of landscape design over several centuries.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

The guide or host will be holding a Wandria flag or board for easy identification. This is famous "Gare de Lyon" station in Paris. The exact coordinates are: 48°50'42.6"N 2°22'23.4"E

End point

The Wandria guide or host will accompany the tourist's group to the station, help them board the train back to Paris, and conclude the tour there. The exact coordinates are: 48°24'59.2"N 2°43'34.0"E

Additional information

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
The Napoleon Museum and some guided tours such as the Imperial Theatre or the Turkish boudoir are not accessible to people with reduced mobility due to the presence of steps.
The castle provides wheelchairs and walking sticks free of charge in exchange for identification. These cannot be reserved in advance and are distributed on-site upon request to the reception staff. This equipment is not intended to be taken outside the castle into the gardens.
The public toilets are located in the Louis XV wing, upstream from the entrance to the castle. Specific toilets are located in the reception areas and can be requested from the staff.
The Grand Apartments are accessible to people with reduced mobility. The elevator can be used upon request to a receptionist.
The Diana and English gardens are accessible to people with reduced mobility. Access to the other gardens is difficult due to the paving stones.
Pets are not allowed, even on a leash, in the castle courtyards and gardens. Only assistance dogs for people with disabilities and/or vulnerabilities are accepted.
Free lockers are available for storing strollers, baby carriers, large bags, umbrellas, and other items prohibited by the visitor regulations. The establishment accepts no responsibility for the theft of valuables left in the lockers.
For conservation and safety reasons, bulky strollers and back carriers are prohibited on the castle tour routes. Front-facing baby carriers and stroller-style carriers can be made available in the changing room.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers. However, on the day of the tour, the group will be divided into groups of 6-8 people with a dedicated Professional Licensed Tour Guide for each group. This will make this tour a small-group (semi-private or private) tour.
For the 8:30 AM Tour: Please enjoy a good breakfast before arriving. The tour continues into the afternoon lunch time, and having a proper meal beforehand will help you stay comfortable and energized throughout.
For the 12:00 PM Tour: We recommend having lunch before the tour. Since we do not schedule meal breaks during the experience, eating in advance will help you stay focused and enjoy the tour without feeling tired and hungry.
Bring a water bottle and stay hydrated throughout the tour.
Make sure you wear comfortable walking or sports shoes as you will have to walk a lot through the vast spaces of the castle and its gardens.
For Summer: Bring sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat/cap, and a water bottle.
For Winter & Rainy weather: Wear warm clothing and bring an umbrella or raincoat if rain is expected.
Don't forget your camera to capture your memories. The Château de Fontainebleau is full of magnificent decorated rooms, art galleries and picturesque landscapes that you will certainly want to capture.
Please note that depending on the crowd and time, the tour guide can make some changes to the itinerary in order to provide the best possible experience to the travelers. Tourists can also ask the guide about their priorities and their interests for specific attractions prior to the start of the tour.
For groups larger than 15 travelers, please contact us directly before booking so we can discuss the available options and ensure the best experience for your group. Please send us an email (find the email address at "Supplied by Wandria" section) with desired date, time, guide language and group size.
If a product slot is unavailable due to its capacity, we can still arrange a special tour for you. For that, please send us an email (find the email address at "Supplied by Wandria" section) with desired date, time, guide language and group size.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

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