A Day at Chateau de Fontainebleau

Description

Imbued with over eight centuries of history, A Day at Chateau de Fontainebleau offers unique historical insight into the lives of over thirty-four French sovereigns who inhabited and enhanced this great architectural monument. A visit to the exceptionally well-preserved Fontainebleau - one of the few royal residences left intact during the French Revolution - offers unparalleled access to French history, art, and architecture. From Francois I to Napoleon, and from Marie-Antoinette to Josephine, Fontainebleau sweeps the reader back in time to experience the traditions and customs of great figures throughout the history of France. Comprised of more than 1,500 rooms on 130 acres of parkland and gardens, and situated thirty-seven miles south of Paris, Fontainebleau welcomes more than 500,000 visitors a year. This book features superb images illustrating the artisanal decorative details of the chateau and the spectacular works of art still housed within; it includes exclusive access to archival documents and numerous rooms and galleries that are not open to the public. From hunting excursions to the grand parties and spectacles that took place at Fontainebleau, A Day at Chateau de Fontainebleau is a private invitation inside a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of France's most beautiful historical monuments. Exquisite photographs by Eric Sander trace the French ruling dynasties - Capetians, Valois, Bourbons, Bonaparte and Orleans- that made their mark on this historical estate. The photographs offer rare access to parts on the chateau usually closed to the public, including the Napoleon III's office, Marie-Antoinette's Turkish-style boudoir, Madame de Maintenon's apartments, the Imperial Theater, the medieval keep, Francois I's Cour Ovale, Henri IV's Gallery of Stags, the Salle des Colonnes, Diana Gallery, and many rare objects from the impeccably well-preserved monument.

Guillaume Picon is a historian and a specialist on the kings of France. He is the author of Versailles: A Private Invitation (Flammarion, 2011). Eric Sander's photographs have appeared in Life, Time, and Newsweek, and in Jacques Garcia: Twenty Years of Passion: Chateau du Champ de Bataille (Flammarion, 2013).

"Whether you have visited Chateau de Fontainbleau or not, Flammarion's book A Day at Chateau de Fontainbleau is a feast for the eyes and a worthwhile adventure, offering a rare view into areas of the chateau that guests could not personally access." -CourtneyPrice.com "Whereas many chateaux are associated primarily with a particular resident or royal, Chateau de Fontainebleau represents almost 1,000 years of French ruling dynasties. A Day at Chateau de Fontainebleau offers not only insights into the history, art and culture of France throughout the centuries, but also the lives of those who inhabited this magnificent French landmark." -QuintessenceBlog.com A Day at the Chateau de Fontainebleau is a fascinating illustrated guide to the chateau de Fontainebleau, one of the most well-preserved, historically rich chateaus in the whole of France. . . . I highly recommend A Day at the Chateau de Fontainebleau for anyone with an interest in French history, French architecture, and historical buildings." -ViveLaQueen Blog A Day at Chateau de Fontainbleau is a beautifully illustrated book about the exceptionally well-preserved Chateau near Paris. It brings to life the history of this enormous castle with stories and anecdotes from its past . . . If you've never been there, you'll feel like you know the chateau from this book, and if you have been there, the book will transport you straight back in your mind..." -TheGoodLifeFrance.com "Akin to a private tour, A Day at Chateau de Fontainebleau gives readers an up-close view of this former royal residence, once home to the likes of Francois I, Louis XIV, and Napoleon. With its many photos of the palace's sumptuous details and its sometimes intimate though often sweeping architecture, the book makes it crystal clear why this chateau has earned its reputation as one of France's architectural gems." -THE PEAK OF CHIC BLOG