FONTAINEBLEAU, a t. in France, in the department of Seine:et-Marne, is beautifully situated in the midst of an extensive forest, near the left bank of the Seine, 35 m. e.e. of Paris, with which it is connected both by steamers on the• Seine, and by railway. There are several fine public buildings, among others, two hospitals—one erected by Anne of Austria, the other by Madame de Montespan7 It furnishes a great deal of wine and fruit for the capital, and has manufactures of porcelain. Its grapes are famed as Chasselas de Fontainebleau. Pop. '76; 11,545.
F. is chiefly famous for its château, or pleasure-palace of the kings of France, and the forest that surrounds it. The forest covers an extent of 64 sq.m., and presents much fine scenery. The château is said to have originally been founded by Robert the pious toward the end of the 10th century.. It was rebuilt in the 12th c. by Louis VII., of whom, and of Philippe Auguste, it was a favorite residence, and was enlarged by Louis IX. and his successors. After being allowed to fall. into decay it was repaired and
embellished by Francis I., who here received the emperor diaries V. with lavish splendor, in 1539. Almost every succeeding king added something in the way of enlargement or embellishment, so that it bears the character and style of almost every century.
In the 17th c., it was the residence of Christina of Sweden after ber,abdieation, and.
in the Galerie.des Cerfs she caused her secretary Monaldeschi to be executed. Under Louis XIV. it was occupied by Madame de Montespan, and under Louis XV. by Du Barry; and here pope Pius VII. was detained a prisoner for nearly two years by Napoleon. - Many state transactions and treaties are dated from F.; among others, the act'of abdication of Napoleon in 1814. Louis Philippe had all the paintings renovated, and the apartments restored in the taste of the 16th century.