Fontainebleau (Fonty) is a small town just 45 minutes south
of Paris, notorious for the influx of international students that flood its
streets every year. It is essentially a town in the middle of the woods, as the
rest of the little villages around it. Home to the renowned Chateau de
Fontainebleau, this is where the royals would come for vacations and for
hunting in the dense forests. The town itself has many quaint restaurants and
fancy shops. I quickly realize that all the stores close for lunch in the
afternoon for 2 hours as I’ve to the Orange store twice at the wrong time. There
are a few bars in the town, in some ways, this reminds me of Evanston.
One other important site in Fonty is the Chateau de Fontainebleau. In the center of town, this gorgeous castle built in 1137, was once a royal residence for many of the French kings and Napoleon, inhabited from the 12th century until 1870. Francois 1 had it rebuilt in 1528 in the renaissance style and in the 19th centrury, Napoleon refurnished it and made it his imperial palace. There are beautiful gardens and parks behind the castle, which stretch to the next city of Avon. I love that no matter where you go in France, there is always a piece of rich history to be found.
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