A visit to Fontainebleu

Lynn, Shaun and I took a bike ride to the Fontainebleu Chateau (about an hour away) while Ian stayed behind to finish off the mast (now back up with all the lights connected) and clean the swim platform which was green and grungy, now sparkling clean.
The day started off rather grey and looking like rain, as you can see from the exterior pictures, but that didn't detract from the outing at all.
Here we go.  Unfortunately there are a lot of pics I cannot recall the details of, that's what happens when you spend nearly 3 hours in a monstrous great chateau.

Our first view of the chateau, we arrived via the back entrance gates

The Large Pavillion viewed across the carp pond

The view across the round pond to the canal which disappeared into the early morning mist

The carp pond - we saw a lot of very big carp in it

We were too exhausted to explore the gardens in total, but I can tell you there are lots of rhododendrons in full flower

The Horseshoe Staircase

In the Napoleon Museum, the crib of Napoleon III

One of the many Guards' rooms, notably plainer than the royals' rooms, but this one has embossed leather covering the walls

Detail on a door leading into the gallery of François the First

The gallery of François the First

The ballroom, undergoing restoration

The musicians' gallery above the ballroom

The magnificent fireplace in the ballroom

The Oval Courtyard was closed, obviously preparing for a fancy function, so this was as close as we got to the Ported'Or.  

The chapel adjacent to the ballroom 

Another view of the chapel ceiling

To me this was the most impressive room of all - the Gallery of Diana, which now holds Napoleon's library.  Unfortunately it is cordoned off so you can only look from a distance 

This bed was made for Marie-Antoinette but she never got to try it out before being guillotined, so Napoleon's wife Josephine was the one who got to inaugurate it

The Empress's boudoir, so delicate we were urged to make haste through it and not linger 

The Throne Room.  Used as a sumptuous bedroom by previous kings but Napoleon turned it into his throne room

His favourite armchair, with one high arm to snuggle against and one low arm facing the fire so he could feel the heat.  This is in his bedroom

Napoleon's office with a folding camp bed.  He worked long hours, preferring "power naps" to a good night's sleep in his sumptuous bed

Napoleon's bathroom, he liked a long hot soak

Napoleon's dining room, next to his office, where he grabbed a quick bite to eat while working

The room and the table at which Napoleon signed the abdication