HISTORICAL HERITAGE
CASTLE OF FONTAINEBLEAU
Listed as a historical monument and as world heritage by UNESCO, the castle of Fontainebleau is nicknamed « house of the centuries ».
It can be proud to have known eight centuries of continuous sovereign presence. Capetians, Valois, Bourbons, Bonaparte or Orléans, all the members of the dynasties that reigned over France have succeeded each other behind its walls. Kings and queens, emperors and empresses have tried to improve this castle, built around its original donjon. In this vast palace a great number of determining historical events have taken place. Constructed with first-class architecture, the castle of Fontainebleau also houses an important collection of former French state furniture and holds an exceptional collection of paintings, sculptures and art items, originating from the 6th to the 19th century.
To complete your visit, the gardens of the castle of Fontainebleau stretch out over 130 ha. Here you can observe the evolution of gardening art, illustrated by the main flowerbed, designed by Le Nôtre, the English garden created during the first empire, Diane's garden, the park and the Grand Canal of 1 200 metres where Louis XIII made a galley navigate.
CASTLE OF VAUX-LE-VICOMTE
The estate of Vaux-le-Vicomte is the creation of three men brought together by Nicolas Fouquet, the superintendent of finances of Louis XIV: the landscape gardener André Le Nôtre, the architect Louis Le Vau and the decorating painter Charles Le Brun. Brought together by a brotherly genius, they created the most perfect harmony between architecture and landscape of the entire 17th century.
From its inauguration during the famous festival of August 17, 1661, Vaux-le-Vicomte aroused the Sun King's desire and became the model that inspired all of Europe. Discover its fascinating history.
MEDIEVAL CASTLE OF NEMOURS
The castle of Nemours is a fortress built during the 12th century, along the left bank of the Loing, near a former observation site. This edifice is one of the only preserved city castles of the region Ile de France. It has managed to avoid the dismantling by the royalties, thanks to the privileged relations the castle had with the lords of Nemours. The main building, adjoined by four corner towers, is linked to a square tower by a narrow gallery.
Listed as a historical monument and transformed into a castle museum, it houses remarkable graphic arts, paintings and sculptures of the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries.
CASTLE FORTRESS OF BLANDY-LES-TOURS
The fortified castle is a hexagonal fortress that owes its configuration to the desires of the kings of France and the Lords of Melun to protect their estate from the powerful Counts of Champagne as well as the English and Burgundy invaders of the Hundred Years' War.
From a simple manor to the fortified castle of the Hundred Years' War, from a rising residential castle to a farm; the castle has known a long history and was owned by prestigious families. This rare castle now enters into a permanent dialogue between heritage and modern artistic creation.
