Palace of Fontainebleau or Château de Fontainebleau (in French) is the largest French royal châteaux.
From Louis VII to Napoleon III, various French kings lived in this medieval castle that later was transformed into a palace.
Due to its distinctive and magnificent architecture and historical significance, it was recognized as a national museum in 1927 and as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981.
Thus a visit to Château de Fontainebleau Paris is a must!
This article covers everything you must know before booking tickets for the Château de Fontainebleau tour.
Table of contents
- What to expect at Château de Fontainebleau
- Where to book tickets
- How do online tickets work?
- Château de Fontainebleau ticket prices
- Château de Fontainebleau entrance tickets
- Tickets for Fontainebleau & Vaux-le-Vicomte Châteaux Day Tour from Paris
- Tickets for Chateau de Fontainebleau & Vaux-Le-Vicomte small group tour
- Tickets for Fontainebleau Palace Private Guided Tour
- How to reach Château de Fontainebleau
- Opening hours of Château de Fontainebleau
- How long does the tour take
- Best time to visit Château de Fontainebleau
- FAQs about the Château de Fontainebleau
What to expect at Château de Fontainebleau
At the Château de Fontainebleau, take a deep dive into the history of France and get a closer look at the lives of the past royal families.
The castle’s location by the waterside, surrounded by lush green gardens, is something that will make you fall in love with this place.
Chateau de Fontainebleau has nearly 1500 rooms–Trinity Chape, Francois I Gallery, and Pope’s apartment, to name a few.
The 130-acre Château de Fontainebleau Garden offers a peaceful and pleasant environment for a stroll.
You’ll encounter Renaissance masterpieces throughout the castle, each echoing a distinct and interesting tale.
The spectacular interiors of the building, royal bedrooms, salons, and bathrooms will leave you awe-inspired!
At the Great Apartments circuit and the Napoleon I museum, be ready to take history lessons.
Where to book tickets
Tickets for the Château de Fontainebleau are available online and at the attraction.
Online ticket prices tend to be cheaper than tickets at the venue.
When you buy online, you can avoid the long queues at the attraction’s ticket counters.
Because some attractions sell a limited number of tickets, during peak days they may sell out. Booking early helps avoid last-minute disappointments.
How do online tickets work?
Go to the Château de Fontainebleau ticket booking page, select the number of tickets and date, and click the Book Now button!
Once you purchase Château de Fontainebleau tickets, they get delivered to your email address.
There is no need to get printouts of the ticket.
You can show the e-ticket on your smartphone when you visit the attraction.
Do bring your official IDs for verification purpose.
Château de Fontainebleau ticket prices
The standard tickets to Château de Fontainebleau Paris are priced at €14 for all guests above 18 years of age, and guests under 18 get free admission.
Tickets for Fontainebleau & Vaux-le-Vicomte Châteaux day tour from Paris cost €105 for adults aged 12 years and above.
Children between three to 11 years get €10 discount and can buy tickets at €95 while, toddlers up to two years can take advantage of free entry.
Chateau de Fontainebleau & Vaux-Le-Vicomte small group tour tickets are priced at €189 for all participants aged seven years and above.
Tickets for Fontainebleau Palace private guided tour are priced a little higher at €429 for all guests above the age of seven years, and guests under that need not buy any ticket.
Château de Fontainebleau entrance tickets
Get this Château de Fontainebleau entrance ticket and see how Marie Antoinette, Empress Josephine, Napoleon, and François Gérard lived a royal life.
Wander through gardens, galleries, rooms, and chapels and soak in the beauty.
With this ticket, you get admission to the Great Apartments circuit, the Napoleon I Museum, and temporary exhibitions.
Ticket Cost (18+ years): €14
Tickets for Fontainebleau & Vaux-le-Vicomte Châteaux Day Tour from Paris
With this ticket, get an audio-guided tour of France’s top two castles: Vaux-le-Vicomte and Fontainebleau châteaux.
Guests will get a round-trip transportation service from the meeting point (as mentioned on the ticket) by air-conditioned vehicle making your tour hassle-free.
You will be picked up around 9 am from Paris with your first drop off at Vaux-le-Vicomte, a castle inspired by the Palace of Versailles.
Explore the cellars, kitchens, rooms, galleries, and gardens and marvel at its unique architecture.
You’ll leave Vaux-le-Vicomte at 1.30 pm for Fontainebleau châteaux.
Discover the 12th-century castle-Fontainebleau châteaux and sneak peek into the royal family’s private apartments.
The castle tour terminates at 5 pm, and you’ll be dropped off in Central Paris (meeting point) by 8.30 pm.
Ticket Prices
Adult Ticket (12+ years): €105
Child Ticket (3 to 11 years): €95
Infant Ticket (up to 2 years): Free
Tickets for Chateau de Fontainebleau & Vaux-Le-Vicomte small group tour
Go on a Chateau de Fontainebleau & Vaux-Le-Vicomte small group tour with your friends and family and take the history lessons from knowledgeable guides.
Exploring these castles in a group makes the tour more entertaining and enthralling, keeping the educational aspect intact.
Guests will be picked up from the meeting point (as mentioned on the ticket) and taken in a fully air-conditioned minibus.
The first drop-off will be Vaux-Le-Vicomte (2.5 hours tour) and the second at Chateau de Fontainebleau (2 hours tour).
On your way from Vaux-Le-Vicomte to Chateau de Fontainebleau, there will be a 1-hour lunch break in Fontainebleau.
We strongly suggest you be at the meeting point at least 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time (usually 9 am) because if you miss the van, there is no way you can catch up with the tour!
The tour is limited to 8 participants, and kids under six years are not allowed.
Ticket Cost (7+ years): €189
Tickets for Fontainebleau Palace Private Guided Tour
Buy this ticket and tighten your shoelaces for this amazing private tour, where the tour guide will be only yours.
You can ask as many questions as you want and set the pace of the tour at your will by selecting a time slot when booking online tickets.
Meet your tour guide outside the castle, who will take you on a historical tour passing from one gallery to another, visiting opulent rooms and exhibits.
Ticket Prices
Adult Ticket (7+ years): €429
Child Ticket (up to 6 years): Free
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How to reach Château de Fontainebleau
Château de Fontainebleau lies south of Paris city in the town of Fontainebleau.
Address: 77300 Fontainebleau, France. Get Directions
You can reach Château de Fontainebleau by public transport or car.
By Train
From Paris Gare de Lyon, take the train on the main lines towards Montereau, Montargis, or Laroche-Migennes, and get down at the Fontainebleau-Avon station.
Then take Bus line 1 to the Château bus stop. From here, the castle is just a two-minute walk away.
By Bus
Take Bus Line 1 (towards Les Lilas) and get down at the Château bus stop.
By Car
If traveling by car, turn on your Google Maps and get started.
There are a few car parking garages around Château de Fontainebleau to park vehicles.
Opening hours of Château de Fontainebleau
The Château de Fontainebleau Paris is open every day of the week except Tuesdays.
From October to March, the castle is open from 9.30 am to 5 pm (last access at 4.15 pm) and from April to September from 9.30 am to 6 pm (last access at 5.15 pm).
The chateau remains closed on 1 January, 1 May, and 25 December.
How long does the tour take
You need at least 2 hours to explore Château de Fontainebleau, spread across 130 hectares.
The castle has beautiful gardens, parks, courtyards, and rooms, which take time to cover on foot.
Best time to visit Château de Fontainebleau
The best time to visit Château de Fontainebleau Paris is when it opens to the public at 9.30 am.
Visiting during the early morning hours avoids encountering large crowds, which otherwise may slow down your tour and spoil your pictures.
Since your palace tour will be indoors and outdoors, factoring in weather conditions is equally important for a comfortable tour.
Though the castle is open year-round for tours, we suggest you avoid going in June when it’s extremely dry and hot.
Spring (March to April) is an apt time to visit when you can see beautiful colorful flowers blooming in the gardens setting up a scenic view to take pictures.
FAQs about the Château de Fontainebleau
Here are some questions guests usually ask about Château de Fontainebleau.
You can purchase online tickets for Chateau Fontainebleau.
Chateau Fontainebleau opens at 9.30 am daily except on Tuesdays when it is closed.
Yes, you can get free admission to the parks and gardens of Château de Fontainebleau. However, to explore the interiors of the castle, you must buy a ticket.
Guests under 18 years, EU residents under 26, disabled people, and their carers get in free, provided they bring official IDs for verification purposes. Also, free admission is provided on the first Sunday of each month, except July and August.
Chateau Fontainebleau Paris has 1,500 rooms.
Château de Fontainebleau is nearly 55 km (35 miles) from Paris and takes approximately 40 minutes to reach by train.
Yes! Guests can go boating in Château de Fontainebleau pond for an additional fee.
In the outdoor section, visitors can take pictures and record videos but photography restrictions may apply indoors to protect the artworks and furnishings.
Yes! the Chateau offers a range of private and group guided tours. For instance, you can select Chateau de Fontainebleau & Vaux-Le-Vicomte small group tour or a Fontainebleau Palace Private Guided Tour. Such tours provide in-depth understanding about the monument.
No, there are no lockers at the attraction.
Located one hour from the hustle and bustle of Paris, Chateau de Fontainebleau in Fontainebleau town offers a serene environment to relax and learn about the history of the castle from experts.
Sources
# Chateaudefontainebleau.fr
# Wikipedia.org
# Tripadvisor.com
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