Located on the edge of a dense 20,000-hectare forest and explored by more than 10 million visitors every year, the Château of Fontainebleau is one of the most imposing palaces in France. With its Renaissance gallery, built 150 years before the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles, its huge formal garden and canal over a kilometer long, Fontainebleau is the only residence that has been home to all the dynasties of France. François I, Henri IV, the Sun King, and even Napoleon all contributed to making this chateau a veritable architectural accomplishment.

How did this “house of centuries” as Napoleon called it, come into being? What construction feats were achieved by its builders to showcase the power of the crown? Using CGI and interviews with experts, this film recounts the epic story of the creation of this incredible royal megastructure, once a small hunting lodge that was transformed into an international symbol of power.

Documentary: Fontainebleau, Building a Royal Palace
Directed by: Olivier Philippe
Production: La Famiglia

#history #castle #château #fontainebleau #france #royal #palace #architecture #design