Château de Fontainebleau, France

Before I tell you how amazing, spectacular and delightful the Château de Fontainebleau is, you absolutely must know this one unique secret about the château. Ok, brace for it.

You can rent princess gowns at the château and wear them while you wander around the castle. Yes! You can actually live out your dream of dressing like a queen with a fluffy, intricate gown and walk the halls of your regal home. I kid you not, it's magical! I showed up a little too late to be able to rent a gown but I would absolutely make a special trip to Fontainebleau next time just to rent one.

Ok, now that you are in the know, I can move on and tell you more about my adventures at the château.

I absolutely fell in love with this grand castle - I actually liked Fontainebleau more than Versailles! Fontainebleau was much less crowded, more intimate, and just as extravagant as Versailles. You can walk up close to the royal throne, get right up to Napoleon's apartment, and actually spend time in the Chapel of Trinity. I also really enjoyed the wood paneled rooms - a unique feature to this château, inspired by the Italian Renaissance (lots of pictures below).

I adored the brick accents, cobble stones, and gorgeous stone arches. We walked through the garden entrance, in awe of how quiet and striking the grounds were.

Museum of Napoleon I

Tucked away in a quiet wing is a small museum where you can admire small, intricate items that once belonged to royalty. Like an antique clock (restored by Rolex), delicate china, and sculptures of Napoleon's family.

The Grand Apartments

This is where not only the royals lived, but also the Pope! I was obsessed with the stunning floor-to-ceiling wood rooms, vibrant wall papers, and carved ceilings.

Chapel of Trinity

This quite, dark chapel was so beautiful, with the white stone, shades of blue/green and pops of gold. The chapel was cool and musty, with painted ceiling as spectacular as Versailles.

The Gardens

We walked outside, just before it began to rain, strolling past the pond and through the château's regal backyard. The courtyards were quiet enough to hear an echo bounce off the enormous stone walls - with no other wandering tourists to be found.