Paris1972-Versailles2003

And here I am back to one of my all time favorite places in my belle France and not just the castle but the town too. As said in many posts not to repeat myself ,the Château de Fontainebleau is very special to me. As written many posts on it and the town, let me give some of the spots not mentioned enough me think , in the past.

This time let me tell you a bit more on the Salle de bal or ballroom. Oh yes some figures to bring it back to perspective: The Château de Fontainebleau is 20,000 m2 of roofing area, 1,530 rooms, 115 hectares of parkland; 14 hectares for the large flowerbed garden, 1,145 meters in length of the canal, and 16,000 work of arts preserved.

The Salle de bal is located between the oval courtyard and the gardens, this sumptuous ballroom with pillars dressed in oak paneling with fluted pilasters, is one of the most remarkable rooms at 30 meters long and 10 meters wide, has an area that exceeds 300 m2 . Decorated in the 16C during the reign of Henri II, it offered the palace a lasting and resplendent village hall, dedicated to the festivities of the Valois court .Henri II modified the project of François Ier. From a loggia originally planned, he makes it a ballroom. The ballroom is one of the largest in the castle. It’s sort of like the village hall, banquets and receptions. The original project is noticeable by the presence of large semicircular bays and by the heavy consoles which were to support a vault on the casings. The “H” and crescent moon, numbers and emblems of Henry II, attest to the transformation of the original project.

At the other end, a balcony was to accommodate the musicians during these festivities, in order to ensure good acoustics. Unlike the François I gallery, the frescoes imagined by Primatice an Italian artist brought by François I in 1532 ,and produced by Nicolo dell’Abate and his team are no longer contained in frames but run freely in a continuous frieze overflowing even on the window frames. The themes are linked to the pleasures of hunting, feasting, dancing, and mythology , On the chimney wall: Diane on the hunt, Sebastien de Rabutin killing a wolf, Diane, Cerbère et l’Amour, Hercule and the wild boar of Erymanthe, and Diane driving a chariot harnessed with dragons. On the side walls: The feast of Bacchus, Apollo and the Muses at Parnassus, The Three Graces dancing before the gods, The wedding of Thetis and Peleus and the apple of Discord, Jupiter and Mercury at Philemon and Baucis, Phaeton begging Apollo for him let his chariot drive, Vulcan forging the weapons requested by Venus for Love, The Harvest, and eight trophies of arms painted under the sculpted bases. The rich coffered ceiling is covered with lunar emblems and the king’s motto. Its chandeliers and arms of gilded bronze, executed in 1837 during the reign of Louis-Philippe, highlight this unique setting which Ingres called the “French Vatican”.

Throughout this series will repeat these two webpages in English, one from the castle and the other the tourist office of Fontainebleau

Official Chateau de Fontainebleau

Tourist office of Fontainebleau on the castle

And there you go a splendid room to be see always at the Château de Fontainebleau and a memorable moment for me all the time , whether visiting it or watching it or reading about it. This is Fontainebleau; hope you enjoy the brief tour.

And remember, happy travels, good health and many cheers to all!!!

And here I am back to one of my all time favorite places in my belle France and not just the castle but the town too. As said in many posts not to repeat myself ,the Château de Fontainebleau is very special to me. As written many posts on it and the town, let me give some of the spots not mentioned enough me think , in the past.

This time let me tell you a bit more on salle des Gardes or the Guard’s room. Oh yes some figures to bring it back to perspective: The Château de Fontainebleau is 20,000 m2 of roofing area, 1,530 rooms, 115 hectares of parkland; 14 hectares for the large flowerbed garden, 1,145 meters in length of the canal, and 16,000 work of arts preserved.

The salle des gardes  or the Guard Room. This large room was that of the King’s guards, guarding the entrance to the sovereign’s apartment. Today, only the French ceiling remains and, at the top of the walls, a frieze of arms trophies and armor painted in oil. In the 19C, under the reign of Louis-Philippe, this initially dilapidated room was transformed into a majestic reception foyer with an overload of figures, ornaments, emblems and currency paying homage to the sovereigns of the past. Adorned with a marble fireplace with the bust of Henry IV and a marquetry parquet floor reflecting the layout of the ceiling, the room eventually became a formal dining room for Napoleon III.

This room was, as long as the kings slept in the keep, the Guards’s room. Indeed, guards were permanently present in front of the door of the king’s apartments, in order to protect him. Louis XIII moved this room. This room is therefore no longer used as a guard room, but rather as a reception room. So he decides to change the whole decor. Original Renaissance decor remains today only the ceiling. But it was by drawing inspiration from the latter that Louis-Philippe had the walls adorned with royal figures of the rulers of the past redone in 1834-1836, which today creates a certain artificial consistency of the the whole decor of this room.

Throughout this series will repeat these two webpages in English, one from the castle and the other the tourist office of Fontainebleau.

Official Chateau de Fontainebleau

Tourist office of Fontainebleau on the castle

And there you go a splendid room to be seen always at the Château de Fontainebleau and a memorable moment for me all the time , whether visiting it or watching it or reading about it. This is Fontainebleau; hope you enjoy the brief tour.

And remember, happy travels, good health and many cheers to all!!!

And here I am back to one of my all time favorite places in my belle France and not just the castle but the town too. As said in many posts not to repeat myself ,the Château de Fontainebleau is very special to me. As written many posts on it and the town, let me give some of the spots not mentioned enough me think , in the past.

This time let me tell you a bit more on chambre de la Duchesse d’Etampes or bedroom of the Duchess of Etampes. Oh yes some figures to bring it back to perspective: The Château de Fontainebleau is 20,000 m2 of roofing area, 1,530 rooms, 115 hectares of parkland; 14 hectares for the large flowerbed garden, 1,145 meters in length of the canal, and 16,000 work of arts preserved.

The chambre de la Duchesse d’Etampes or the room of the Duchess of Etampes. She was a favorite of François Ier, Anne de Pisseleu, duchess of Etampes, benefits from a room located immediately near that of the sovereign. The most beautiful of scholars, also has an exceptional decor due to the Primatice which produced, between 1541 and 1548, the precious effigies of stucco, long and elegant, which chant harmoniously the frescoes narrating the loves of Alexander the Great. The decor is later completed by Nicollo dell’Abbate.

Converted into the King’s staircase in 1748-1749 by Louis XV, part of the wall decoration is then preserved, before being restored and enhanced, under Louis-Philippe, with a neo-Renaissance false vault decorated with cartridges in relief, garlands of fruit and mascarons freely inspired by the François I gallery.

Throughout this series will repeat these two webpages in English, one from the castle and the other the tourist office of Fontainebleau .

Official Chateau de Fontainebleau

Tourist office of Fontainebleau on the castle

And there you go a splendid room to be see always at the Château de Fontainebleau and a memorable moment for me all the time , whether visiting it or watching it or reading about it. This is Fontainebleau; hope you enjoy the brief tour.

And remember, happy travels, good health and many cheers to all!!!