a town of France, capital of an arrondissement in the department of Seine-et-Marne, is distant about 37 miles in a S.E. direction from Paris, on the lines of high road and railway that connect that city with Lyons. Pop. of commune (1851) 8278. The town stands in the midst of the Forest of Fontainebleau (which is nearly 64 square miles in extent); is well-built, and has some wide and handsome streets. It possesses a college, excellent barracks for cavalry, hospitals of various kinds, public baths, and a good public library. In the immediate vicinity of the town is the celebrated palace—one of the largest, and interiorly one of the most sumptuous of the royal residences in France. The kings of France are known to have had a palace at Fontainebleau as far back as the year 1169; and this palace was a favourite abode of Louis VII., Philippe-Auguste, and St. Louis. The existing building was begun by Francis I., who laid out immense sums of money upon it. Primaticcio, a famous Italian architect, was instructed to draw out the plans of it; while such artists as Leonardo da Vinci, Andrea del Sarto, and Benvenuto, were commissioned to expend upon it all the resources of their various arts to make the place a truly royal residence. The edifice was completed as it now stands by Louis XIV.; but after his death it fell into disfavour, and was used for a while as a military school. Napoleon restored it with great splendour, and often resided in it; but after the Restoration it was allowed to fall into disrepair. Louis-Philippe expended immense sums of money upon it; and in point of internal decoration it is now inferior to none of the French palaces.

Many events of importance have taken place at Fontainebleau. Philippe-le-Bel, Henri III., and Louis XIII., were all born in the palace, and the first of these kings died there. Henri IV., who greatly improved and embellished it, made it his favourite residence; as did also his daughter, Henriette, widow of Charles I. of England. Christina, the self-exiled queen of Sweden, lived here; and one of the galleries is still shown as the spot where she caused her unfortunate secretary, Monaldeschi, to be murdered. In 1685 the revocation of the Edict of Nantes was signed here; and in the following year the great Condé closed his career in the very room in which the eldest son of Louis XV., afterwards died. Pope Pius VII. was here confined prisoner for a year and a half by Napoleon; and in 1814 the emperor took leave of his guard, and signed his abdication of the French throne at Fontainebleau. The present emperor of the French sometimes resides here to enjoy the sports of the forest, which is well stocked with game of various kinds, especially wild boars. The beautiful gardens and ornamental waters immediately surrounding the palace form a great attraction to the Parisians, large numbers of whom arrange parties of pleasure to Fontainebleau during the summer months, especially on Sundays.