Fontainebleau

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Situated about forty miles south of Paris in a large forest, Fontainebleau is surrounded by splendid, carefully patterned gardens, and many ponds and small lakes. Its roof line is different from most other Châteaux, with a variety of pointy–sloped–roof sections that tend to look like a group of row-houses.

As we toured the apartments of the palace, we felt they were very ornate, if not gaudy — gold highlights, muraled ceilings, etc. Most of the rooms were furnished in very straight, uncomfortable looking velvet-covered furniture. The flamboyant François I brought many Italian artists and artisans to work at Fontainebleau, and the “Mona Lisa” was first brought to France to grace one of its rooms.
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