Fontainebleau Parkrun usually takes place on Saturday mornings at 9 am round an ornamental lake on the edge of the Château de Fontainebleau, some 40 miles south of Paris.
Note: Parkrun in France is currently suspended due to legal issues around the need to present medical certificates to participate in sporting activities. However, the above event still happens unofficially every Saturday as an untimed ‘not parkrun’.
How to get to Fontainebleau Parkrun
The start/finish area is in Avenue des Cascades, just in front of the Château, on the edge of the town of Fontainebleau. From Paris, take the A5b/D606. There is a train from Paris to Avon Fontainebleau Station, which is about 1.5 miles from the start.
Parking
There is free parking along Avenue des Cascades, but spots nearer the Château fill up early, so it may be necessary to park some way from the start.
Toilets
There are no facilities. There are toilets in the Château grounds, but these don’t open until 9.30. So, the nearest accessible pre-run toilets are in town in Rue Richelieu, which is about a kilometre away, so come prepared!
Fontainebleau Parkrun Course
The course consists of two circuits of an ornamental lake; Le Grand Canal.
Terrain
The terrain is compacted earth, with a gravel section parallel with Avenue des Cascades.
Shoes
It’s all on gravel, so probably trainers.
Difficulty
Fast and flat – only 16 metres of elevation. About as easy as running 5 km gets.
Fun Factor
Fontainebleau parkrun is tiny. The average number of finishers was just 16. The week we went, there were 13 runners (that’s my family plus 10). The locals were very welcoming. I had a lovely run, chatting with another British tourist all the way round. Plus, it’s a very pretty run round the lake with the Château in the background.
Where We Stayed
We stayed in a self contained annex in the picturesque village of Bourron-Marlotte, around 5 miles from Fontainebleau. Our accommodation; Le Champ du Châtaignier is in the annex on the owners’ home. It’s very nice both inside and out.
Nearby Attractions
The Château de Fontainebleau, former residence of Napoleon, is a beautiful château with a rich history and wonderful grounds. Definitely a place to enjoy exploring. For more about our visit to Fontainebleau, which formed part of a 5 day French Road Trip, click here.
- Trip taken: June 2019
- Updated May 2025
I hope you found the above information useful. For guides to more destinations in the 50+ countries we have visited, check out my full list of Independent Travel Itineraries here.
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