Fontainebleau <- France <- Home

Fontainebleau

 




Actually, these first three are from the Champs Elysee. We went to Fontainebleau directly after Palm Sunday service at the American Cathedral, and en route I snapped a few photos.



tn_PICT0001.JPG tn_PICT0002.JPG tn_PICT0003.JPG
Yves Saint Laurent
3/21/2005
66 kB


tourists...
3/21/2005
95 kB


arc de triomphe...
3/21/2005
88 kB


Then we took a train to Fontainebleau (which may or may not be located in Avon, although there is certainly a Fontainebleau as well - it was all a bit muzzy) and walked from the train station to the entrance which leads through the grounds of the chateau.



tn_PICT0007.JPG tn_PICT0008.JPG tn_PICT0012.JPG
tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
103 kB


tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
77 kB


tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
65 kB


tn_PICT0013.JPG tn_PICT0014.JPG tn_PICT0015.JPG
tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
74 kB


tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
96 kB


tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
80 kB


Above, the main staircase and two photos from the room of plates, which as you can see had plates embedded in the wall throughout. I took a close up of Twickenham castle, which is (was?) located in England. Below, the chapel of the trinity and a couple of shots of the amazingly carved doors.



tn_PICT0016.JPG tn_PICT0017.JPG tn_PICT0018.JPG
tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
93 kB


tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
51 kB


tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
77 kB


tn_PICT0019.JPG tn_PICT0020.JPG tn_PICT0021.JPG
tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
80 kB


tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
77 kB


tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
73 kB


tn_PICT0022.JPG tn_PICT0023.JPG tn_PICT0024.JPG
tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
98 kB


tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
95 kB


tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
81 kB


One of the things we discussed as we went through the chateau was the excellent job they had done with lighting. It made taking photos somewhat beastly, but it gave you a much better idea of how people would have seen the place. Of course, I think some of the darkness was because they had blocked off some windows to prevent the sun from damaging the amazing and ornate decoration.



tn_PICT0026.JPG tn_PICT0027.JPG tn_PICT0028.JPG
tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
87 kB


tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
78 kB


tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
75 kB


tn_PICT0030.JPG tn_PICT0033.JPG tn_PICT0036.JPG
tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
76 kB


tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
71 kB


tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
92 kB


Next row: on the left, self portrait. On the right, the Chapel of the Trinity (most of which was done between 1600-1650) . In the center is a detail from a room Napoleon used. I am informed by the Museum of Fontainebleau that the chair was decorated by bees to tie Napoleon to the Merovingiens (who reigned from 458 to 751, and apparently had long hair). Bees (actually cicadas, symbols of immortality) apparently decorate the tombs of the Frankish kings.



tn_PICT0037.JPG tn_PICT0040.JPG tn_PICT0042.JPG
tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
39 kB


tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
91 kB


tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
113 kB


tn_PICT0043.JPG tn_PICT0044.JPG tn_PICT0045.JPG
tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
102 kB


tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
55 kB


tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
46 kB


tn_PICT0046.JPG tn_PICT0047.JPG tn_PICT0048.JPG
tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
69 kB


tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
47 kB


tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
105 kB


I have to admit, although the fountain looks quite lovely from a distance, we were a little disturbed by it up close. It seems too late in the season to think about cleaning it, and although I have complete faith that there is a reason for leaving such thick growth on the fountain, I can't for the life of me think what it is....



tn_PICT0049.JPG tn_PICT0050.JPG tn_PICT0051.JPG
tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
115 kB


tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
53 kB


tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
23 kB


tn_PICT0052.JPG
tn_PICT00...
3/21/2005
100 kB



Copyright © David Barber

Fontainebleau <- France <- Home