Situated just to the east of Paris, the departement of Seine-et-Marne is truly an area of contrasts. From the peace of the Fontainbleau palace and forest, and the neighbouring historic villages and chateaux, to the modern chaos that is Disneyland Paris! Yet Disneyland has made this area one of the most visited parts of France, and if you are on holiday with children they will probably never forgive you if you stay in Seine-et-Marne and don't take them to see Mickey and friends.
The Fontainbleau Palace has long been considered one of the great masterpieces of French architecture and it has also made it onto the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. It won't take you long to work out why. This building features different architectural styles from its past; a medieval hunting lodge, a King's palace in the 16th century and Napoleon's favourite holiday home in the 19th century. Each made their changes and adaptations which have made this elegant building truly unique. You follow a guided tour through the Palace which takes you from the oldest parts of the building to the most modern. One of the highlights, the magnificent white marble horseshoe staircase is left until the end.
The gardens immediately around the Palace consist of lawns, walkways and huge flowerbeds, but head away from the building and you come to a large wooded area. Head further east, and you come to the large Fontainbleau forest with nearly 300 kilometres of walking trails. The area is also ideally suited for mountain biking and horse riding, and there is even a rock climbing centre. The forest is full of unusual rock formations, that you can either just enjoy looking at or have a go at climbing.
Located in the north of Seine-et-Marne, just a half an hour from the centre of Paris by an urban train line, is Disneyland Paris. In fact, if you're coming to Disneyland you don't need to go into the centre of Paris at all, as they have a range of accommodation from family lodges to five star hotels. The park itself features all the usual rides, such as Big Thunder Mountain and It's a Small World, as well as the more spectacular indoor Space Mountain. There are plenty of rides for younger children, who will also enjoy the daily procession, featuring all of their Disney favourites. Tickets are cheaper if you go on an evening, and make sure you stay until the end for the nightly fireworks display.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Seine-et-Marne? Then below is a selection of gites in Seine-et-Marne and villas in Seine-et-Marne that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
