Forest of Fontainebleau

One of the largest forests in France – 25,000 hectaures, Fontainebleau Forest is a popular getaway for Parisians, being located just 50km from the capital and easily accessible off the A6.

Walkers can enjoy the many waymarked hiking trailers and the deep gorges are popular with climbers – there are circuits graded easy to difficult. Good biking and horse riding too.

The Forest’s diverse terrain supports 6,600 species of wildlife (including 5,600 insects), 5,700 plant species and 2,700 fungi. Bird-watchers may be lucky enough to see firecrests, woodlarks, Dartford warblers, nightjars, short-toed treecreepers, cirl buntings and any of 6 types of woodpeckers including black, middle spotted and grey headed.

Much loved by landscape painters, Monet painted his ‘Bodmer Oak’ here in 1865.