Château de Fontainebleau
The Fontainebleau castle has witnessed eight centuries of continuous royal presence from all the successive royal dynasties of French history: Capet, Valois, Bourbon, and Orléans. Included among the line of tenants were also the emperors of the Bonaparte family. Kings and queens, emperors and empresses have all endeavoured to beautify the castle and its marvellous grounds.
The first château
The first mention of the castle in royal documents dates from 1137, when the King Louis VII ascended to power. The first massive defensive contructions were made then. In 1169, the archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket - then exiled in France - is inaugurating the chapel of the castle. In 1259, King Louis IX (Saint Louis) establishes a monastery and hospital on the grounds. Philippe IV (le Bel), 1268 - 1314, is born and dies at Fontainebleau. In 1323, Queen Isabel of England comes to visit her brother, the French King Charles IV (son of Philippe IV). King Charles VII, reigned from 1422 to 1461, enlarges the castle considerably and stays there for extended periods.
The Valois Dynasty
With the Renaissance come the first major enlargements of Fontainebleau. King Francis I (1494 - 1547) is strongly interested in art and architecture, and in particular in Italian Renaissance art. He brings in Italian artists to decorate the castle and he stays there frequently. He enjoys the vast hunting grounds that surround the castle. He started the major construction works there in 1528, and in 1536 he invited his future son-in-law Jack V of Scotland there. In 1539, the Habsburg Emperor Charles V visited him there. Francis I's son, King Henry II also stayed at Fontainebleau for extended periods and continued construction works there. Six of the children Catherine de Medicis gave to Henry II were born at Fontainebleau. In 1560, one of his sons, who at that time was King Charles IX assembled the country's notabilities with the aim of calming the religious conflicts (which in great part had been caused by his mother Catherine de Medicis in her too close cooperation with the Catholic fraction leader, the Duke of Guise). In 1593, Henry IV (the first king of the Bourbon dynasty, ascended to power after the failure of the three sons of Francis I - Francis II, Charles IX, and Henry III - to produce an heir to the dynasty of the Valois) established his court at Fontainebleau, before entering Paris - which was still under domination of the Catholic Ligue. Henry IV brought about religious peace by allowing protestants to practice their faith without persecution.
The Bourbons at Fontainebleau
Many important events took place at Fontainebleau during the reign of the Bourbons. Marriages of many of Henry IV's children took place there, and so did the baptism of his heir to the throne, the future Louis XIII. He spent a happy childhood there, with hunting, games and drawing lessons. Many important political events, such as the arrest of Marchal d'Ornano by Louis XIII for plotting against him, the promotion of Cardinal Richelieu to the Order of chevalier de Saint-Esprit, signing of the peace treaty between England and France in 1629, and the legal act abolishing freedom of religion (Révocation de l'Édit de Nantes) - signed in the office of Louis XIV's mistress and secret wife, Madame de Maintenon. In 1661, Louis XIV was staying at Fontainebleau when he decided to arrest his Superintendent for Finance, Nicolas Fouquet, for misuse of public funds. Numerous other events could be mentioned, but the above are mentioned only as examples from this period.
In the 18th century, Fontainebleau remains the favoured place to be in the autumn, during the hunting season. The kings of France take advantage of the more relaxed social etiquette here, as compared to the one at Versailles. The Russian tsar Peter the Great, the Danish King Christian VII, and many other notable royals stayed here as guests. Illnesses were also the faith of royals. The only son of Louis XV, his heir to thre throne, died here of tuberculosis in 1765.
A Palace for the Emperor
Napoléon is the great restorator of the castle of Fontainebleau, which he completely refurnishes after the French Revolution. He came there for the first time in 1803, and followed up the restoration of the castle in the subsequent years. The Pope Pius VII is staying there on his way to Paris for the crowning ceremony in the Notre Dame when Napoléon was crowned Emperor. In 1807, one thousand persons were lodged in the castle from the 21st of September to the 16th of November, for the signing of several important international treaties. An additional four thousand people were lodged in nearby buildings. In 1808 Napoléon's divorce from Joséphine is announced, and in 1810 the new empress Marie-Louise (grand-niece of Queen Marie-Antoinette, who was decapitated during the Revolution) was introduced to Fontainebleau. In 1814, Napoléon is forced to abdicate, and he never sees Fonatinebleau again. The castle, however, continues to see the visit of prominent persons. These visits are still taking place regularly among the powerful of today. See more here.
The first château
The first mention of the castle in royal documents dates from 1137, when the King Louis VII ascended to power. The first massive defensive contructions were made then. In 1169, the archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket - then exiled in France - is inaugurating the chapel of the castle. In 1259, King Louis IX (Saint Louis) establishes a monastery and hospital on the grounds. Philippe IV (le Bel), 1268 - 1314, is born and dies at Fontainebleau. In 1323, Queen Isabel of England comes to visit her brother, the French King Charles IV (son of Philippe IV). King Charles VII, reigned from 1422 to 1461, enlarges the castle considerably and stays there for extended periods.
The Valois Dynasty
With the Renaissance come the first major enlargements of Fontainebleau. King Francis I (1494 - 1547) is strongly interested in art and architecture, and in particular in Italian Renaissance art. He brings in Italian artists to decorate the castle and he stays there frequently. He enjoys the vast hunting grounds that surround the castle. He started the major construction works there in 1528, and in 1536 he invited his future son-in-law Jack V of Scotland there. In 1539, the Habsburg Emperor Charles V visited him there. Francis I's son, King Henry II also stayed at Fontainebleau for extended periods and continued construction works there. Six of the children Catherine de Medicis gave to Henry II were born at Fontainebleau. In 1560, one of his sons, who at that time was King Charles IX assembled the country's notabilities with the aim of calming the religious conflicts (which in great part had been caused by his mother Catherine de Medicis in her too close cooperation with the Catholic fraction leader, the Duke of Guise). In 1593, Henry IV (the first king of the Bourbon dynasty, ascended to power after the failure of the three sons of Francis I - Francis II, Charles IX, and Henry III - to produce an heir to the dynasty of the Valois) established his court at Fontainebleau, before entering Paris - which was still under domination of the Catholic Ligue. Henry IV brought about religious peace by allowing protestants to practice their faith without persecution.
The Bourbons at Fontainebleau
Many important events took place at Fontainebleau during the reign of the Bourbons. Marriages of many of Henry IV's children took place there, and so did the baptism of his heir to the throne, the future Louis XIII. He spent a happy childhood there, with hunting, games and drawing lessons. Many important political events, such as the arrest of Marchal d'Ornano by Louis XIII for plotting against him, the promotion of Cardinal Richelieu to the Order of chevalier de Saint-Esprit, signing of the peace treaty between England and France in 1629, and the legal act abolishing freedom of religion (Révocation de l'Édit de Nantes) - signed in the office of Louis XIV's mistress and secret wife, Madame de Maintenon. In 1661, Louis XIV was staying at Fontainebleau when he decided to arrest his Superintendent for Finance, Nicolas Fouquet, for misuse of public funds. Numerous other events could be mentioned, but the above are mentioned only as examples from this period.
In the 18th century, Fontainebleau remains the favoured place to be in the autumn, during the hunting season. The kings of France take advantage of the more relaxed social etiquette here, as compared to the one at Versailles. The Russian tsar Peter the Great, the Danish King Christian VII, and many other notable royals stayed here as guests. Illnesses were also the faith of royals. The only son of Louis XV, his heir to thre throne, died here of tuberculosis in 1765.
A Palace for the Emperor
Napoléon is the great restorator of the castle of Fontainebleau, which he completely refurnishes after the French Revolution. He came there for the first time in 1803, and followed up the restoration of the castle in the subsequent years. The Pope Pius VII is staying there on his way to Paris for the crowning ceremony in the Notre Dame when Napoléon was crowned Emperor. In 1807, one thousand persons were lodged in the castle from the 21st of September to the 16th of November, for the signing of several important international treaties. An additional four thousand people were lodged in nearby buildings. In 1808 Napoléon's divorce from Joséphine is announced, and in 1810 the new empress Marie-Louise (grand-niece of Queen Marie-Antoinette, who was decapitated during the Revolution) was introduced to Fontainebleau. In 1814, Napoléon is forced to abdicate, and he never sees Fonatinebleau again. The castle, however, continues to see the visit of prominent persons. These visits are still taking place regularly among the powerful of today. See more here.