A recycled château.

The Fontainbleau castle has evolved over the years: of the 12th century fort all that remains is the dungeon and King's Chambers. It was in 1528 that François Premier had the château levelled to raise another on the site.

Of this 16th century configuration we can still admire the golden gate, the Ballroom, a few buildings in the courtyard, and of course the François I gallery (designed by Rosso and Francesco Primaticcio) which is a masterpiece of frescoes, stucco and woodwork. This is representative of the first Fontainebleau art school. When Henri II commissioned Philibery Delorme to design the Cerfs and Diane galleries and the Dauphine gateway, the result was a perfect example of the second school of Fontainebleau (with Flemish and French artists).

Napoleon, upon his arrival in Fontainebleau, was confronted with a lack of furnishing; he had the entire place refurbished and the Petits Appartements laid out. It wasn't until the reign of Louis-Philippe that the château was restored as a whole.