The little town of Fontainebleau (pop. 15,949) in the département of Seine-et-Marne lies southeast of Paris in the beautiful Forest of Fontainebleau, the largest state forest in France, covering an area of almost 20,000 hectares/50,000 acres, which is a favorite weekend resort of the citizens of Paris. The principal attraction is the historic
and beautiful old château, which Stendhal called a "dictionary of architecture". For some 800 years the château was the favorite country residence of French kings and emperors; monarchs from Louis VII to Napoleon III lived here, building, rebuilding and altering it down the centuries.
The Palace and Gardens at Fontainebleu were designated a World Heritage Site in 1981.
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