It was the first castle that I visited in France way back in 1990 when my dear late wife Martine took me there as it was her native area. Its still the nostalgic favorite ,visited several times over the years, and friends of the castle. The luxury and architecture of it is inmense, but a lot of folks missed the wonderful gardens. They are magnificent. So ,after many posts on the Château de Fontainebleau, in the dept 77 of Seine et Marne ,in the Île de France region of my belle France, Therefore ,let me tell you about Le Parc et les Jardins du Château de Fontainebleau, part I !!! Hope you enjoy it as I.
Covering an area of 130 hectares and extending beyond the drop in the Cascades basin, the park of Fontainebleau castleonce marked the limits of the royal domain to the east. From the village of Avon, it was crossed by the main access road to the castle. Its current configuration, the organization of the network of star-shaped alleys and waterfalls, results from the creation of the canal under Henri IV, 2,000 m long and 40 m wide, Initially planted with more than sixty thousand trees where the rows of white poplars, oaks and fruit trees, this “closed park” and its canal were the pride of the king, who followed the construction site, monitoring the progress of the work. In 1609, it took more than a week to fill it and, from autumn, the king sailed there with his Dauphin.
Avenue de Maintenon is the forest road that connects the Grille de Maintenon grid to Petit Mont-Chauvet. Formerly called a Allée de la Chaussée, Mail Henri IV or Allée des Ornes, it served as a frame for solemn entrances, like that of Charles Quint in 1539 and place of walks and games. The Grille de Maintenon grid has long been the main access leading to the castle. It was the starting point and return of the royal hunts. The picture is from outside castle looking in from the avenue de Maintenon.
To the south of the castle lies the grand parterre (11 ha or 27 acres) or big garden designed by none other than André Le Nôtre, and it is the most extensive that he had done, a French garden style or jardin à la française. It was created from 1660 to 1664. By the time of Napoléon Ier, the terraces were encircled with lime trees. The English style garden or jardin à la Anglaise took formed from 1812 with an artificial stream, and long alleys, butches of trees,and isolated trees of various species ,and sculptures . Some of the current trees dates back from the middle of the 19C and are from the time of those planted under Napoleon.
The jardin de Diane are from work done under Napoleon as well as Louis Philippe that were done in a picturesque style . They have as principal sculpture that of the Fountain of Diane that, also, gave name to the garden. The gardens are free admission and are open from May to September 9h-19h. March April and October from 9h-18h, and from November to February from 9h-17h. The Diane garden and English garden can be closed without notice.
Other interesting things to see is the Grotte des Pins or cave of pins encrusted in a wall by the wing of the galerie d’Ulysse looking out and done under king Louis XV. The Pavillon de l’Etangs built in 1662 by Le Vau looking out to the Grand Parterre done by Le Nôtre. It was restored in 1807 when the jardin Anglais was done. Then you have the huge Parc or park that goes beyond the castle far back, it has 130 hectares or 321 acres of land all the way to the bassin des Cascades ,and the east of the castle. From the village of Avon it crosses a principal road for access to the castle. It current configuration is due to the organisation of the alleys, cascades , and the creation of the Canal of 1,2 kms (0.75 mile) under king Henri IV by 1606-1609. You, also, will see the Fountain Bliaud, in the middle of the garden in a small forest , the fountain also call Belle-Eau from the 16C and the one that gives the name to the castle in old French as in Fontaine -bleau or bliaud.
The official Château de Fontainebleau on the gardens : https://www.chateaudefontainebleau.fr/en/courtyards-and-gardens/
The Fontainebleau tourist office on the castle gardens : https://www.fontainebleau-tourisme.com/en/discover-the-region/patrimoine-2/the-chateau-a-grand-history-book-of-france/the-chateau-gardens/
For my love of the castle, this is the official Friends of the Castle : https://www.amischateaufontainebleau.org/
There you go folks another wonderful gem of my nostalgic Seine et Marne dept 77 awaits for you and yours. Again, hope you enjoy the Parc et les Jardins du Château de Fontainebleau, part I !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 