Henri IV (1553-1610)
He regularly resided in Fontainebleau and several children of France were born here, including the eldest son, the future Louis XIII. Henri IV created the court of Offices, the architecture of which recalls the contemporary Place Royale in Paris (since become the Place des Vosges). He remodelled the gardens, had the Grand Canal dug, and entrusted with the decoration of his apartments Flemish artists such as Ambroise Dubois and French artists such as Martin Fréminet, who together formed the second School of Fontainebleau.

Louis XV (1710-1774)
Passionate about hunting, he came here every autumn of his reign to hunt stag. He considerably modified the château, where he married in 1725, by creating small apartments in the style of the period and by having Gabriel demolish and reconstruct a wing of the Court of Farewells to host his suite. Habitual transformations for a royal château, but which saw Primaticcio’s frescos disappear from the still famous Ulysses Gallery.

Napoléon 1st (1769-1821)
The emperor returned to Fontainebleau its vocation of “sovereign” abode. He refurnished the apartments, transformed the King’s bedroom into the Throne room and in 1804 welcomed here Pope Pius VII who had come to anoint him. He held the Sovereign Pontiff here anew from 1812 to 1814, this time as a prisoner. He spent the last days of his reign here before abdicating on 18 April 1814. The salon of the Abdication and the court (which has since become the Court of Farewells) remain places of pilgrimage for imperial history enthusiasts.

Louis Philippe (1830-1848)
He was the first sovereign to decide on a general restoration of the Palace, in order to make it a setting befitting the wedding of his son, the Duke of Orleans, in 1837. The Renaissance décors were restored and even improved with the creation of parquets and ceilings in the style of the period.

Napoléon III (1851-1870)
With the restoration of the Empire in 1852, Fontainebleau regained considerable importance. The new emperor frequently came to the country with the Court, and pursued the chateau’s restoration without respite (Diane’s Gallery, François 1st Gallery and Trinity Chapel).
He organised numerous building works for his enjoyment, including a theatre (still in its original state) and a Chinese museum to host Empress Eugénie’s collections. Since the end of last century, the restoration works on the buildings and gardens have been continued, in particular with the Rockefellers’ patronage to save the Beautiful Chimney wing. The collections have been completed through an active purchasing policy (Emperor’s porcelain dinner service).

For practical information on the town (Town Hall website) :
 www.fontainebleau.fr

For information on the parish of St Louis de Fontainebleau :
 www.eglisefontainebleau.fr.st