Fontainebleau Palace
Fontainebleau Palace, a museum and former residence of the kings of France. It is about 40 miles (64 km) southeast of Paris in the forest of Fontainebleau. The palace consists of a group of buildings arranged around courtyards and gardens. It was built and decorated in a variety of styles over several hundred years. Francis I tore down most of a medieval royal hunting lodge and began building the palace in 1528. Later rulers, including Henry II, Henry IV, and Louis XV, enlarged and renovated the palace. The Ballroom, Farewell Court, Francis I Gallery, and Fountain Courtyard are among the outstanding features of the palace. Specialized museums within the palace include the Chinese Museum and the Napoleon I Museum.