Palace of Fontainebleau – The
royal residence used by French kings and royal families
The Palace of Fontainebleau, or Chateau de
Fontainebleau, is a royal residence used by French kings and royal families.
Beginning in the 12th century, the chateau was used as a medieval hunting lodge
by King Louis VII. Located in the forests of the Île-de-France, Fontainebleau
was the perfect choice for a residence not far from the capital in Paris.
In the 16th century, François I recreated the lodge,
transforming it into the Renaissance palace it is today. Beginning in 1528, the
project of embellishing the royal residence began with the earliest builder,
Gilles le Breton, including his work on the Cour Ovale in the eastern part of
the complex.
The architecture and art of the Palace of
Fontainebleau inspired artistic evolution. François I brought artists from
Italy, who spread the Renaissance to France. Rosso Fiorentino was the artist
who created many of the palace’s frescoes and stuccos from 1533 to 1540.
Fiorentino worked in the Mannerist style and his work incorporated themes from
Greco-Roman mythology. Francesco Primaticcio also created frescoes, along with
Romantic bronzes, the Cortile of the Belvedere and the Palazzo della Valle.
After François I, construction on the palace was
continued by successors, even through the 19th century. Today, the palace is
made up of five courtyards surrounded by buildings and filled with gardens. The
grounds feature the Forest of Fontainebleau and many gardens, like the Grand
Jardin on the east side. Originally consisting of flower beds and a canal, the
gardens later became Parterre du Tibre, and today are primarily lawns with
flowers along the borders.
The Palace of Fontainebleau now houses the Ecoles
d’Art Americaines, an art school for American students. Tours are available of
certain parts of the palace, like the Grands Appartements (including the Papal
Apartment), the chapels, museums, and galleries.
