Fontainebleau was, a million years ago, submerged under the sea. A kind of inland sea, with many streams and rivers linking to it. Its very name suggests that fact- the place used to be called Fontaine Belle Eau (Fountain of Beautiful Water)
Thousands of years later the filthy rich Kings of France built a chateau in the middle of what was then a forest larger than Paris itself. To the royals this was simply a hunting lodge.
Hundreds of years later, but only a few years after the famous '89 revolution, Fontainebleau is one of the Parisians' favorite weekend getaway.
Sebastian proposed to go on an excursion there with his new car. My first impressions of the place: a typical French castle (and France is literally littered with chateaux, especially in the neighbouring regions. Google
Val de Loire). Upon entering the gold leafed gates one discovers a few unique touches: the strangely bright yellow walls, the exotic choice of plants and a variety of
mushrooms fungi.
For the first time in my life I saw a white feathered peacock. With its fan (for lack of the right word) down you'd think it was some mixed breed of duck and swan.
(Update: Upon Googling this breed of peacock I learnt that "The White Peafowl breeds from India and are the rarest and feathers can reach a sale price of $500.00 per feather." -
Wikipedia)
Surprised already twice in the same hour I wasn't expecting much once we got through the frontyard into the main grounds. Less so expecting to see a down-sized version of the Versailles Palace gardens. I find Versailles to be excessively large (the day i visited the place I fully understood why the French revolted against the Monarchy!). But here, on the opposite side of Paris is the same thing only on a more acceptable scale.
On the whole this castle, 45 mins away from Sleeping Beauty's Castle (at Disneyland) is not one for the Not to Miss list. By contrast the sourrounding forest is definitely worth the drive.
The interesting thing about this forest is that a) its made up of Pine tress which release a beautiful aroma; b) its full of great big rocks and boulders. The kind of big grey rocks that usally form part of marine habitat. Their smooth, slippery texture is evidence that these were one day below sea level. And another thing... the ground is made of sand! How surreal is that!?
Impressive.
Labels: travel
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