The Panache of the Enlightenment: Henri IV Exhibition at Fontainebleau Castle

The Château de Fontainebleau is dedicating a new exhibition, “The Panache of the Enlightenment,” to the figure of Henry IV revived under Louis XVI, to be on view from 19 September 2026 to 25 January 2027 in Seine-et-Marne. Here’s everything you need to know.

The Château de Fontainebleau (Seine-et-Marne, 77) adds a new chapter to its grand royal season with “The Panache of the Enlightenment,” an exhibition focused on the figure of Henri IV as reinterpreted during the reign of Louis XVI. It runs from 19 September 2026 to 25 January 2027, complementing the major exhibition “Marie-Antoinette and Louis XVI at Fontainebleau. Splendor and the Joys of Living.”

The idea is intriguing. Rather than focusing solely on the royal couple of the 18th century, the château traces the dynasty back to the first of the Bourbons. On the eve of the Revolution, as his reign grows more fragile, Louis XVI calls to mind Henri IV, the ruler who has lingered in the popular memory as the “father of the people.” A way to walk in the footsteps of a beloved ancestor at a moment when the throne is in jeopardy.

The heart of the exhibition is the painted cycle devoted to the history of Henri IV, by François-André Vincent, whose sketches are today kept at the château de Pau. These works trace how the memory of the Béarnais king was revived at the end of the Ancien Régime, somewhere between a heroic narrative and an early instrument of political communication.

Henry IV, the “good king” summoned on the eve of the Revolution

Why Henri IV? Because he embodies, in the French imagination, a king who stands with his people, the figure the legend ties to the famous Sunday “poule au pot.” In reviving his image, a monarchy sensing the political wind is looking for a unifying, almost protective icon.

The whole point of the tour is to show how an image from the past is recycled to serve the present. The white plume of Henry IV, once a symbol of courage, reemerges as a useful reference under Louis XVI. Behind the paintings, you read a small lesson in the history of images and their power, still as relevant today.

Where and when to see “Le panache des Lumières” at the Château de Fontainebleau?

The exhibition runs from September 19, 2026 to January 25, 2027 in the Saint-Louis rooms, along the château’s visitor circuit. Access is included with the entrance ticket, at no extra cost: €17 full price, €15 reduced, with free entry for those under 18 and for EU residents aged 18–25 (as well as on the first Sunday of each month, excluding July and August). Tickets can be reserved directly at the Château de Fontainebleau ticket office. The landmark is open every day except Tuesday, from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM from October to March, and until 6:00 PM from April to September.

« Le panache des Lumières » is produced in partnership with the Château de Pau and the Grand Palais RMN, and conceived as the historical counterpart to the blockbuster exhibition on Marie-Antoinette and Louis XVI. All official details are laid out on the dedicated page of the Château de Fontainebleau.

It's a worthwhile discovery to plan for anyone who loves exhibitions that tell a story, not just a gallery of portraits. It speaks to history and painting enthusiasts as much as to curious visitors drawn by the Marie-Antoinette season, who will thus extend their visit with a different perspective. A great cultural outing to pair with a balade dans le parc et les jardins, ouverts gratuitement.

Want to extend your visit? We suggest keeping an eye on the season’s flagship exhibition with our article An exhibition dedicated to Marie-Antoinette and Louis XVI at the Château de Fontainebleau, and reconsidering the royal immersive weekend offered at the château to experience the era in a fresh way.