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Moret-sur-Loing
Fortified walled town dating to the early 12th century. Very charming and picturesque on the banks of the river Loing. The official residence of the French rulers prior to Fontainbleu.
Formerly the property of the house of Champagne. Now an agricultural centre adjacent to the great cereal plains and the famous dairy pastures of Brie.
Development started in the 19th century. The Royal Palace owes its origins to a passion for hunting and its development and decoration to the King's weakness for amassing works of art and displaying them in their "family house". The Palace was designed for and occupied by French rulers taking over from Moret. The Grand steps at the front are known as "Farewell Steps", as a result of the Emperor Napoleon making his farewell speech prior to being banished to Elba. Fontainbleau is a pleasant town with a large Military Academy, including a riding centre for the army. It is a town of varied small industries and laboratories, including a research centre for mining engineers and the European Institute of Business management. It also houses a large collection of National Archives.
Barbizon and the Forest of Fontainebleau
A forest of 62,000 acres, 50,000 of which belong to the state with open access. It is used by ramblers, climbers and those hunting wild boar. Containing 8,000 acres of Common Oak, 20,000 acres of Scots pine and 15,000 acres of Beech, it is an attractive forest of mixed trees broken by areas of heath and rocky outcrops.
On the North-West fringe of the forest is the little village of barbizon. This became home for the artists in the 1800's - they were landscape painters working directly from nature. The most famous being Rousseau and Millet. These were followed by a group of writers - Sand, Murger, Goncoutr brothers, Taine etc.
The village is very popular, now the home of Parisien commuters (1 hour journey). The original nature and varied house styles still exist and a feeling of the days of the great artists prevails.
Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte
Some 45 minutes from Montereau is this delightful Chateau, somewhat less known the large Chateaux of Fontainebleau and Versailles, it is possible to wander round and get the feeling of being there in time. Originally built by Nicolas Fouquet, who became a member of the Parlement de Paris by the age of 20 and Superintendent of Finance soon after, he had a habit of mixing the state budget and his own - so he built what was then the most fantastic house. It involved clearing 3 villages and employing 18,000 workers. Eventually he was rumbled for one thing and another and of course fell from power ! The Chateau forms one of the masterpieces of the 17th century and was the basis for the design of Versailles for Louis 14th.
A town famed for its cheese. The rich alluvial soils of Brie feed the grazing pastures. The traditional Brie from Melun which measures 40cm across is consumed when it has reached its "peak". The Coulommiers Brie is less mature and the Brie from Melun is firmer and has a much stronger taste (and smell)
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