Christmas 2025 at the Château de Fontainebleau: show and concert

Are you looking for a different way to spend the festive season from theParisian illuminations? The Château de Fontainebleau in Seine-et-Marne invites you to immerse yourself in the magic of Christmas 2025, with a program that should delight young and old alike. From December 21, 2025 to January 3, 2026, you'll discover a brand-new magic lantern show, baroque music concerts and a festive staging in the imperial apartments.

Located less than an hour from Paris, the Château de Fontainebleau is an ideal destination for a family getaway during the school vacations. And let's face it, it's rather nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of the capital and enjoy the peace and quiet of the surrounding forest, while discovering one of France's most beautiful historic monuments. The château's staff have concocted a program that blends history, heritage and live entertainment, in the spirit of the great courtly festivities that once enlivened these premises under Napoleon I.

The highlight of the show is undoubtedly Les Contes de la lanterne magique, presented by Duo Diapason. This company has teamed up with one of the world's last lantern makers to bring back to life a forgotten projection technique, the true ancestor of cinema. The storytellers and actors transport us into a marvelous tale of optical illusions, superimpositions, apparitions and disappearances, all revolving around the spirit of Christmas and its glittering table decor. This unique experience rediscovers the magic of 19th-century light projections in the sumptuous setting of the château's Salle des Colonnes.

The show takes place on specific dates, so make a note in your diary:SundayDecember21 andMonday December 22, then Friday December 26 and Saturday December 27, as well as Friday January 2 and Saturday January 3. Three performances are offered each day at 11am, 2pm and 3:30pm. On Wednesdays December 24 and 31, only two performances are scheduled, at 11am and 2pm. Each performance lasts around 50 minutes, a perfect format for families with children who are unlikely to get bored. Tickets start at 9 euros, excluding château admission. For those wishing to combine the show with a visit to the monument, the package costs 21 euros full price or 9 euros reduced price (including admission to the château at 14 euros full price and 12 euros reduced price).

To coincide with the show, the château is pulling out all the stops with an exceptional Christmas table set up in the Salle des Gardes, at the heart of the tour circuit. The installation evokes the splendor of the court in the days of Napoleon I and the First Empire. The setting is beautifully staged, with authentic Louis-Philippe tableware from the château's collections. This historical reconstruction plunges us straight into the atmosphere of festive meals of yesteryear. The table remains accessible throughout the festive period, from December 21 to January 3, allowing visitors to imagine the splendor of imperial celebrations.

For classical music fans, on December 12, 13 and 14, 2025, Thomas Hengelbrock and the Balthasar Neumann ensembles will take over the château's magnificent Salle de Bal for a concert entitled Noël au château. The program includes three cantatas from Johann Sebastian Bach's Christmas Oratorio (Cantatas 1, 5 and 6), as well as works by composers such as Hugo Distler, Jan Sandström and Thomas Adès. Musical direction is entrusted to Lionel Sow, who leads the Balthasar Neumann Choir and Orchestra, renowned for their interpretation on period instruments. The acoustics of the Salle de Bal are nothing short of exceptional.

Concerts take place on Friday December 12 and Saturday December 13 at 7.30pm, and on Sunday December 14 at 3pm. Each performance lasts 70 minutes with no intermission. Thomas Hengelbrock's artistic residency at the Château de Fontainebleau has been running since 2021, enabling audiences to discover Baroque and Classical works in an exceptional historic setting. The conductor, who has also been Music Director of the Orchestre de chambre de Paris since September 2024, is one of the biggest names in international conducting.

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The château remains open throughout this period, with the exception of Tuesdays, January 1 and December 25. Winter opening hours apply: 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last admission at 4.15 p.m. You can easily combine a visit to the monument with one of the festive activities on offer. Admission to the château costs 14 euros full price and 12 euros reduced price. Good news for those on a tight budget: admission is free for under-18s and 18-26 year-olds resident in the European Union, as well as for jobseekers, RSA recipients and the disabled. And the icing on the cake: every first Sunday of the month, admission is free for all (except in June, July and August 2025). The park and gardens remain accessible free of charge every day, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in winter. Find out more about château opening hours and prices.

There are several options for getting to the Château de Fontainebleau from Paris. By public transport, take the Transilien line R from Gare de Lyon, with a journey time of around 40 minutes to the Fontainebleau-Avon station. From there, a bus (line 1) or a twenty-minute walk will take you to the château on Place du Général de Gaulle. By car, the site is easily reached via the A6 freeway, with a pay parking lot nearby (preferential rate of 5 euros for 4 hours when reserving online).

This Christmas 2025 program is part of an eventful year for the Château de Fontainebleau. The monument, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, bears witness to nine centuries of French history. From François I to Napoleon III, French sovereigns have shaped this unique site, which blends Renaissance, Classical and Second Empire styles. The historic apartments, the François I gallery, the ballroom and the formal gardens make up a truly remarkable architectural ensemble.

The proximity of the town of Fontainebleau and its famous forest adds to the charm of a winter visit. The town also organizes its own Christmas festivities, with a Christmas market from December 13 to 15 on the Place de la République and in the courtyard of the Hôtel de Ville. You can enjoy a full day out in this major Parisian heritage site, combining a cultural visit with a stroll through the decorated streets. And if you've got the time, a stroll in the forest is just the thing.

Reservations for the magic lantern show and concerts can be made directly on the château's official website or at the on-site ticket office. For groups and large families, we strongly recommend booking in advance, especially for dates close to Christmas and New Year, which are often fully booked. Our reception staff are fully aware of the needs of disabled visitors, and have made special arrangements to facilitate access to the various areas.

This festive season at the Château de Fontainebleau offers a wonderful opportunity to discover or rediscover this jewel of French heritage in a magical atmosphere. From magic lantern shows to baroque music concerts and historic Christmas decorations, you'll be immersed in the magic of the French holiday season, far from the hustle and bustle of Paris, but just a stone's throw from the capital. An outing we warmly recommend for the Christmas vacations.