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 in the Ile-de-France, was transformed, enlarged and embellished in the 16th century by François I, who wanted to make a 'New Rome' of it. With over 1500 rooms at the heart of 130 acres of parkland and gardens, the Italianate Fontainebleau combines Renaissance and French artistic traditions and is the only royal and imperial château to have been continuously inhabited for seven centuries.
Capétiens, Valois, Bourbons, Bonaparte and Orléans - all members of French ruling dynasties - have lived within these walls. Kings, queens, emperors and empresses have all striven to make their own improvements to the château built around the original keep. The estate quickly became a huge palace in which many momentous historical events have been played out.