Font of Splendor

Described by Napoleon Bonaparte as “the true residence of kings,” Château de Fontainebleau was occupied and shaped by esteemed magnates for nearly eight centuries. In its earliest form, the property was a hunting estate, a haven where rulers would retreat to enjoy the forest’s abundant wildlife. As early as 1137, Louis VII and his successors took reprieve here, establishing their own additions to the grounds.
What some would call the palace’s “second birth” came at the hands of Francis I, who commissioned a near total transformation of the medieval fortress into a Renaissance-style palace, leaving only the foundation and a single tower from its previous iteration. Subsequent rulers made notable expansions, designing great new wings, courtyards, and gardens to both house and entertain their courts. The castle’s rooms, of which there are 1,500, were masterfully refurnished in the ornate fashion coveted by occupants such as Catherine de Medici and Marie Antoinette, while walls and ceilings were adorned with the frescoes and stucco that helped form an important period in France’s art history.

After the monarchs’ extravagance, a new leader became enchanted by Fontainebleau. The property had been spared any damage in the Revolution, fortunately, but its contents had been removed and sold. Napoleon I sought to restore the palace to its former glory and include himself in its narrative. He swiftly refurnished the entire interior prior to Pope Pius VII’s arrival to crown him emperor. A former king’s bedchamber was made into the ruler’s throne room, the original furnishings of which remain there to this day.
Throughout these many illustrious generations, Fontainebleau has remained a constant and breathtaking golden thread in the history of France. Now open to the public as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it brims with inspiration for pilgrims who seek to bask in its never-ending beauty and delve into its plentiful past.

Text Leslie Bennett Smith
Photography Marcy Black Simpson

To learn more about Château de Fontainebleau, see “Font of Splendor” in the May/June 2021 issue, available on newsstands and at Victoriamag.com.