Today I came across this expression ‘conducteur du dimanche‘ which is the same in French as English…the ‘Sunday driver’ and I began thinking back to my time living in the outskirts of Paris and how I loved to take the car on Sunday or go with a friend on a Sunday on a drive to Versailles or Saint-Germain-en-Laye or another such history-filled place and just stroll around.  One of my very favorites was Fountainebleau.  I’m not sure if this is because the royal grounds are so very charming or because I was always on the lookout for Charlotte or Caroline of Monaco as supposedly that is where they reside most of the year (at least at the time) and where the children went to school.  In any case, it always seemed as we had our coffee at a café in the town center or walked up to the gates of the residence that you could really feel the history there despite all the people walking about in their very modern and fashionable clothes.

For some, Fountainebleau, which is located about 34.5 miles to the southeast of Paris and is home to one of the largest royal châteaux (castles) in France, evokes the palace.  Others quickly think of the dense woods and yet others, of the horse competitions.  It is a remarkable place really and one where you can quickly become lost in thoughts of being invited to a great royal hunt or a glamorous royal ball.
The Castle was lived in by all French Queens, Kings, Emperors and Empresses from François I to Napoleon III.  The state apartments are open daily to the public except on Tuesdays.  On certain days, there are tours of the small apartments which house the Napoleon I museum.  The five main courtyards, gardens and parks are open every day and I recommend taking a horse-drawn carriage ride around them.  Despite the somewhat kitschy commentary, the feeling you get is quite majestic.  Click here for some panoramic views of Fountainebleau.