THE GARDENS AND THE ORNAMENTAL LAKES...

Like the buildings, the gardens of Fontainebleau have undergone numerous changes at the mercy of fashion, political will, lack of maintenance or anarchic plant development.

DIANA GARDEN OR THE QUEEN'S GARDEN

Until Louis Philippe, a space completely closed in by an orangery built by Henri IV in brick and stone, like the remaining building which hosts the Deer Gallery on the ground floor and the Diana's Gallery on the first. In the centre of the garden, one can discover Diana’s Fountain (1602), topped by the statue of the hunting goddess and surrounded by four bronze dogs come from the Louvre where they had previously been installed.

ENGLISH GARDEN

Formerly the Pine Garden, this garden was redesigned in the English style in the 19th century and its broad lines were developed under Napoleon 1st, with an artificial river running through it. Towards the back of it, an ornamental lake marks the site of the legendary “Fontaine-Belle-Eau”.

THE CARP POND

This was once a swamp, which François 1st had transformed into a decorative lake, thus launching the “mirror of water” fashion much favoured by the French before being imitated all over Europe… As in all European royal domains, the lake is populated by carps reserved for the sovereign’s table.

THE GRAND GROUNDS OR THE GROUNDS OF THE TIBER

Conceived by Le Nôtre, this is a French style garden which has unfortunately lost its boxtree décor. The landscape opens onto two perspectives:
- One towards the forest where a widening of the terrace
receives the ornamental lake of the Tiber
- The other, towards the canal, above the ornamental lake
with the waterfalls.
- Beyond and below lies the grand park which extends into
the forest.

THE GRAND PARK AND THE GRAND CANAL

A surface of 84 hectares, with linear paths, star-shaped crossroads and a large canal approximately 1200m long, built under Henri IV.

THE REAL TENNIS ROOM

Considered the oldest of the three other remaining such rooms in France, its origin goes back to the 14th century in the reign of François 1st. This sport, the ancestor of tennis, then became “the game of kings, the king of games”.
There are many currently used French expressions which have their origins in Real Tennis: “qui va à la chasse perd sa place” (he who goes hunting loses his place), “tomber à pic” (to happen in the nick of time), “épater la galerie” (to impress the gallery)… These days, the Real Tennis room regularly welcomes tournaments and enables enthusiasts of this sport to play there all year long.

Practical infos...

The courtyards and gardens are open every day from May to September from 9am to 7pm.
In March, April and October, from 9am to 6pm.
From November to February, from 9am to 5pm.