Fontainebleau’s history: its etymology, kings and reconstruction

A French commune situated in Seine-et-Marne, Fontainebleau spans 17,000 hectares of forest land. The charter of succession of Louis VI is the first written document to mention this name. The appellation "Fontainebleau" would derive from the Gallo-Roman "Fontana," which means fountain or stream, followed by a Germanic name, "Blitwald." From the Latin "Fons Bleaudi" in the twelfth century, "Fontem blahaud" in 1137, to "Fontainebleau" or otherwise "Fountain of beautiful water" in 1630, according to popular etymology, the origin of "Fontainebleau" continues to be the subject of discussions among scholars.

This town houses the Château de Fontainebleau, which kings from Francis I to Napoleon III chose as their primary residence. The Capetians, the Valois, the Bourbons, the Bonaparte, and the Orleans successively resided in the castle. Philippe le Bel was born here in 1268 and died here in 1314. On October 18, 1685, Louis XIV signed the Edict of Fontainebleau, revoking the Edict of Nantes, causing the exile of many Protestants. Louis XV married in this castle in 1725. In total, 34 French sovereigns stayed here. From Francis I to Louis XV, these kings undertook works, showcasing the harmonized extravagance of the French monarchy.

This former hamlet was particularly appreciated for its hunting aspect, notably by King Louis VII. Later, Louis IX established a hospital here. Until 1528, Fontainebleau was a hamlet before being rebuilt by Francis I, with the assistance of Italian artists, after a year of captivity.

Today, the city has nearly 15,000 inhabitants. In the 17th century, some thirty private mansions were erected by princes and great lords. Throughout these centuries, when the sovereigns paid particular attention to the municipality, it hosted restaurants and hotels at premium prices. The centuries of reconstruction truly shaped the population and the economy of Fontainebleau. Artists and workers succeeded each other. Théodore Rousseau and Jean-François Millet painted their landscapes and scenes of life here in the mid-1800s.

During the French Revolution, the commune bore the names "Fontaine-la-Montagne" and "Fontaine-le-Vallon." The revolution did not have any significant effects on Fontainebleau, due to the unwavering support of the monarchy. On October 29, 1807, a treaty authorizing the invasion of Portugal by Spanish troops was signed at Fontainebleau. On June 20, 1812, Pope Pius VII was imprisoned in the castle, not leaving his apartment until 1814. Barracks were constructed to house regiments of Hussars and the Imperial Guard. Napoleon I also established the Saint-Cyr military school before it was relocated.

In 1946, the Franco-Vietnamese conference in Fontainebleau was held. Aimed at resolving the Indochinese conflict, this meeting ended in failure.