At Gare de Lyon. I was excited to finally be in one of the grand train stations and actually boarding a real train.
The steps leading up to the château.
Napoleon's library.
The château through the foggy haze.
Parents teaching their daughter to ride a bike through the château grounds.
The warm sunlight was a perfect compliment to the fall colors just starting to show on some of the trees.
The château from across the pond.
The carp pond.
The château and formal gardens.
The flowers in the garden were especially colorful and lush.
C'est moi!
The fountain with lots of swans.
The perfect end to a perfect day... a pistache macaroon the size of a tennis ball.
I convinced some friends to hold off Versailles for another month when it finally is off season and not as crowded. They were still anxious to get out of the city and see some of the grand château's outside of Paris. I suggested Fontainebleau since I had heard so much about it. So, early Sunday morning we gathered at the train station and headed out of town. After being within Paris for the past month, it was amazing to get out of the city and suburbs, and into the countryside. Fresh air, less cars, and the lack of hustle and bustle that comes from inner city living were all a welcomed change for the day. Inside the château was unlike anything else I have seen in France so far. They style was of the Northern Mannerists, and shares many of the same qualities of the same style of painting. Rich woods, heavy with decoration, were coated in gold and deep jewel tone paint. Every surface was covered in some type of pattern. The rooms, while very large, still felt very claustrophobic. It was a strange contrast to the predominately rococo design seen throughout Paris. Quickly the interior became visually too much to handle, so we left for the gardens. A light fog had descended upon the grounds, which just added to the aura of the château. As soon as we approached the formal gardens though, the fog and clouds lifted, leaving us with bright sunshine. The château had come to life, filled with families casually strolling through the grounds, enjoying their Sunday afternoon. The bright flowers and striking exterior of the château felt like a scene from movie. It was easy to imagine Beauty and the Beast taking place at Fontainebleau. When it was time to head home we stopped at a boulangerie, only to find the biggest macaroons I have ever seen. Not only were they big, but they were some of the best I have ever had. Easily rivaling the famous Laduree ones.
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