Fontainebleau

Fontainebleau
Leisure groups
& Corporate events
2013
and
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ild
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« a
ainebleau forest is
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monument. »
Victor Hugo
www.fontainebleau-tourisme.com
Fontainebleau forest
• 2013 : impressionism year •
Real source of inspiration for poets and painters, the Fontainebleau forest is
recognized under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Program.
It’s various landscapes & exceptional sites cover more than seventeen acres in
one stretch. At the entrance of the forest, Barbizon represents the home town
for many 19th century painters. Their work in the heart of the forest helped the
village become renown worldwide.
Corot, Millet, Rousseau, Monet & Renoir often came to seek subjects in the forest
for their paintings: trees, alleys, rocks… in order to paint nature at its’ best “Dans
tel endroit, telle heure est favorable, et cet instant passé, le motif n’existe plus”.
This is what gave such merit to our artists for they were able to choose the right
moment in this open space paint shop.”
Guided tours
Take a walk with a guide to discover the secrets and abundance
of the Fontainebleau Forest. Duration: 1h30.
Guided bus tour including a stop in the forest. Duration 1h30.
Fontainebleau château
Housing marvelous works of art as well as rich and sumptuous
decorative scenes, the chateau is a very precious art museum. A
Unesco World Heritage Site.
The Chateau, a museum before anything!
France’s greatest kings have lived in the Chateau since the 12th century. All
have contributed in its’ development and embellishment, therefore it has
retained the imprint of every reign and every style. The Chateau was residence to many famous and powerful people in France during eight centuries.
Programs
n#1 – The Fontainebleau Forest, a painters’ tour.
10h00 AM F ontainebleau forest: our forest guide will make you discover
the secrets and the abundance of the Fontainebleau forest:
the places where “colorists” and “landscape painters” of the
19th century used to stay.
12h30 Lunch in a restaurant
Price per person
located in the forest.
From 35 e
OPTION o utside painting workshop
under an artists’ supervision
practical information
ple
1 guide per group of 30 peo
Mini/maxi : 10-80 pers.
Validity : every day
• 2013 : 400th anniversary of André Lenôtre’s birth •
The palace combines Renaissance and French artistic traditions. Throughout
the guided tour of the State Apartments (Ballroom, François 1st gallery, the
Throne room…) you will discover the luxurious existence of all the great
French sovereigns: 34 of them lived there.
Nowadays, the Pope’s apartment enhances the traditional visit with a series
of eleven rooms both ceremonial and private.
Programs
n#2 – Fontainebleau, Royal hunting lodge.
10h00 AM Fontainebleau chateau -Enjoy an authentic visit of the castle
from the golden gate, ancient starting point for royal hunts.
Our guide will then take you to the state apartments where
you will discover the royal way of life.
12h30 Lunch in a restaurant in Fontainebleau
2h30 PM Real Tennis, known as “sport of kings”.
You will learn all about the origins of this sport while
discovering one of the three French active rooms.
4h00 PM Afternoon tea in a local
Price per person
brasserie.
From 59 e
al information
ctic
carriage
tour
in
the
OPTION horse
pra
ple
castle’s park, or boating for two
1 guide per group of 30 peo
s.
per
100
on the carp pond.
Mini/maxi : 10Validity : every day
except on tuesdays
n#3 – Our Favorite: Royal week-end !
From a castle to another, discover Vaux le Vicomte
3h00 PM C hateau de Fontainebleau gardens: guided tour throughout
the castles’ Park, courtyards and gardens.
8h00 PM Château de Vaux le Vicomte: Dinner and free visit of the
chateau. Candlelight tour every Saturday from May 5th to
October 6th 2012.
OPTION Night and breakfast in your ***hotel.
Day 2
10h00 AM Fontainebleau chateau Free visit throughout the
State Apartments. You will
discover the sumptuous
lifestyle our sovereigns had!
Price per person
From 65 e
practical information
ple
1 guide per group of 30 peo
s.
per
60
10 :
axi
Mini/m
from
Validity : every week-ends
3
201
r
May to Octobe
Fontainebleau Nature
Fontainebleau town
The town
In the heart of a magnificent forest, Fontainebleau still shines with royal
history: the castle was first built around and for hunting purposes. The city
was built accordingly, to accommodate kings, lords and their courtiers on
their hunting trips for Fontainebleau was soon to be the place to be and to
hunt.
According to the legend, it is during a hunting with hounds that a dog
discovered a fountain in the middle of the forest. It is said that the dog
owner’s name or the dogs’ name itself was « Fountain-Belle-Eau » or «
Fountain-Bliaut ». The first meeting point for hunters was built near this
fountain and is the starting point for the castle’s development.
As one of the main sponsors of the Republican Guard, Fontainebleau keeps
its military tradition and past history, also maintained by Napoleon 1st
who built an indoor horse-gear (listed building) used only by the imperial
Military Special School students.
Throughout the year, Fontainebleau welcomes’ famous equestrian events
thanks to its’ racecourse and its’ Grand Parquet stadium.
The Grand Parquet
First a private hunting ground during Louis 14th reign, then a racecourse at
the beginning of the 20th century, and military base during the Occupation,
the Grand Parquet relives its’ primary function by housing more than 30
fixtures all year round as well as private & corporate events.
Programs
n#4 – Fontainebleau horse capital
uided tour of the military horse-riding center to discover the
10h30 AM G
different jobs and activities of the center.
12h00 AM Horse carriage transfer to the Grand Parquet Stadium.
12h30 lunch at the Grand Parquet gastronomic
Price per person
restaurant “La Closerie des Saveurs”.
From 70 e
Competitions programme on www.grandparquet.com
practical information
ple
1 guide per group of 30 peo
s.
per
60
10 :
axi
i/m
Min
to
Validity : every day (subject
e)
atr
the
events in the
Fontainebleau, prestige evening
Fontainebleau Tourisme will help you plan your event: private
party, gala or corporate events, day delegate packages…
A dedicated sales team will work with you during the planning stages of
your event and on the day, ensuring the very best in customer
service, organization and guidance
choosing from a range of vendors
Price per person
and venues.
From 90 e
practical information
ple
1 guide per group of 30 peo
s.
Mini/maxi : 10-200 per
Validity : every day
n#5 – Fontainebleau, an evening to remember…
to the sound of hunting horns.
6h30 PM Welcome
6h50 PM Private guided tour of the Château. Let yourself be
seduced by the intimacy of a guided tour organized specially for you, once all visitors have vacated the site. Become the master of the Chateau!
Your visit will take you through many private and function
rooms, slowly discovering the immensity of the Chateau,
marked by eight centuries of royal and imperial presence.
OPTION Cocktail in one of the Château’s ballrooms.
Our
Favorite
World heritage towns
n#6 – A two day tour to discover. 3 Unesco World Heritage Sites.
1st day: Fontainebleau, imperial town
9h30 AM F ontainebleau chateau “True House of kings, True house of the
centuries»
Enjoy an authentic visit of the palace, a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Used by the kings of France from the 12th century, the medieval
royal hunting lodge of Fontainebleau, standing at the heart of a vast
forest, was transformed, enlarged and embellished by each resident,
therefore retaining the imprint of every reign and every style.
Surrounded by an immense park, the Italianate palace combines
Renaissance and French artistic traditions. Your visit will start from
the golden gate, ancient starting point for royal hunts. Our guide will
then take you to the state apartments where you will discover the
royal way of life.
on guided tour of courtyards and gardens
11h30 AM N
Courtyards, Parks and Gardens show another vision of the Chateau
from afar. Stroll through the French garden designed by Le Notre,
pass by the White horse Courtyard through Diane’s Garden and
discover facades and courts, fountains and flower beds which evoke
the glorious hours of the Chateau.
12h30
Free Lunch in a local brasserie
2h30 PM F ontainebleau forest, a preserved environment in the heart of one
the most beautiful European biosphere reserves, recognized under
UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) Program.
In the heart of 17 000 acres, the forest is composed of temperate
deciduous forest (mainly oak, Scots pine and beech), heathlands,
open rock areas and several wetlands. The forest lies upon an
ancient marine sand-bank which is occasionally overlaid by
sandstone. Our guide will show you the ancient royal forest,
pampered and developed for hunting purposes.
4h30 PM Afternoon snack in Barbizon
OPTION
5h00 PM Non guided tour of the Painter’s tour in Barbizon.
6h00 PM Check-in at your ***hotel in Fontainebleau
7h30 PM Dinner in a high-scale restaurant
2nd day: Provins, medieval city
9h00 AM Departure from Fontainebleau to Provins
rovins, medieval city
10h00 AM P
The fortified medieval town of Provins is situated in the former
territory of the powerful Counts of Champagne. It bears witness
to early developments in the organization of international trading fairs and the wool industry. The urban structure of Provins,
which was built specifically to host the fairs and related activities, has been well preserved - a Unesco World Heritage Site.
12h15
E njoy your lunch in the oldest auberge in France (1270) “l’Hostellerie de la Croix d’Or”
2h15 PM T he Provins rose garden (from May 1st to November 1st)
Guided tour in a quiet and charming garden covering three acres,
Guided tour in a quiet and charming garden covering three
acres, with an exceptional view of the medieval city, where you
will learn all about roses. Discover the story of this emblematic
flower through 300 varieties of rosebushes.
After the visit, enjoy tea time with tasting of products made from
roses (tea, macaroons and ice cream)
OPTION instead of visiting Provins’s rose garden
2h30 PM S how « The eagles of Ramparts » (lasts 45 minutes)
In the splendid setting of the rampart theatre, an aerial ballet
takes place above your head. Eagles, vultures, falcons, kites,
owls and many other birds of prey will take you on a
Price per person
fabulous journey through time, alongside horses, wolves
From 360 e
and camels. Costumes, music and storytelling will leave
practical information
ple adults and children with imperishable memories.
1 guide per group of 30 peo
Mini/maxi : 10-50 pers.
Validity : every day
except on tuesdays
HOW TO COME TO FONTAINEBLEAU:
Roissy Charles de Gaulle
- Take RER B – Stop at Chatelet les Halles
- Then take RER A – Stop at Paris Gare de Lyon train station
Orly South and West
-Take Orlyval – Stop at Antony
-Take RER B – Stop at Chatelet les Halles
-Take RER B – Stop at Paris Gare de Lyon train station
Information: 39 50
Web: www.aeroportsdeparis.fr
Timetables and itineraries in Ile-de-France:
www.transilien.com
BY CAR FROM PARIS
TO FONTAINEBLEAU
South ring road direction A6 Lyon, exit Fontainebleau
(50 minutes)
N SNCF
TRAIN STATION TRANSILIE
www.wh aodesign.com © ph otos : F. Perro t
AIRPORTS
To come by train from Paris
Take a train at Paris Gare de Lyon direction Montargis,
Sens or Montereau
and stop at Fontainebleau Avon train station (40 minutes).
SNCF information: 0890 36 10 10
(0.15 €/mn from a home phone)
Fontainebleau-Avon train station: 01 64 22 38 57
Web: www.transilien.com
BY CITY BUS
From Fontainebleau - Avon train station to
Fontainebleau city center, take the “1” line.
These buses run every 15 minutes.
To go to the Chateau or the Tourist Office, stop at “Château”.
Bus information: 01 64 23 71 11
Commercial kiosk: 01 64 22 23 88
Timetables and itineraries in Ile-de-France:
www.transilien.com
4, rue Royale
77300 Fontainebleau
Tél. : 01 60 74 99 99
www.fontainebleau-tourisme.com