Fontainebleau is about 45 minutes away from the Gare de Lyon. After several mix ups at the huge station for national and international trains, we set off, somewhat anxious about the day's potential weather (it's been pretty darn cold and miserable in Paris recently), but we needn't have worried as the weather was great for February.
The castle is beautiful, rather similar to Versailles (on which I have yet to properly report) although perhaps less extravagant. Versailles is one of the most extravagant, decadent castles in the world so to say that Fontainebleau in comparison seems less so does not account for a lack of extravagance.
On the contrary, the castle's interior was without exception extremely detailed and symbolic, as demonstrated on the inside of the Chapel as seen in the photo to the right. It was difficult to keep up with the various Kings and Queens, as well as Napoleon, that have lived there. Although I remember that it was kept in use after the Revolution of 1792 which reveals quite a bit about the revolutionaries that they probably wouldn't want you to know. Marie Antionnette's chambers are as ever beautiful and exquisite, designed for pleasure (they include a gaming room, a bed she never had a chance to sleep in as its completion coincided with her death, and a powder room).
Marie Antionnette's bedroom
The adjacent grounds were picturesque, the grand lake being a main feature. On completion of our day of culture and history, we enjoyed a tasty late lunch in the town of Fontainebleau and indulged in some decadence of our own in the form of French Patisserie (which, yes, we did gobble up on the train back!).
A great end to the weekend. Things like this inspire me to continue braving the French language and to improve my knowledge of French history.
A bientot xxx
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