We signed up for a family tour. Our guide held a big bunch of skeleton keys that opened parts of the chateau that are not open to the general public. The guide told a dramatic story. We were told that we needed to solve a mystery and to unmask who had injured the little "thorn puller." We started at the statue of the Petit tireur d'épines (thorn puller).
The kids had a sheet of paper with the list of suspects. As they learned more, they were able to cross off more and more suspects. Here they are working to put together a puzzle and solve a clue. I was impressed that all of the kids were so well behaved. Pierre pointed out that it was a somewhat self selected group.
We were allowed into the lower chapel. The king and queen would worship in the balconies of the upper chapel.
As we entered into the older part of the chateau, the keys gave the tour guide some trouble.
The family tour was offered only in French, and it was wonderful that we could all follow along.
Francois I (1494-1547) is said to have brought the Renaissance to France. He even brought Leonardo da Vinci to Chateau de Chambord.
After the kids solved the mystery, we had to go and check our answer with the ghost of the chateau. One of the guards went and spoke with the ghost and then reappeared holding a small metal box. We were right and we were each allowed to take a large golden coin with a picture of Chateau Fontainebleau on it from the box.
We headed home, and besides an ill advised stop at Ikea (my idea) and a traffic jam getting back into Paris, it was as smooth as silk.
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