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This municipality in Île-de-France is almost twice the size of Paris

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The Editor

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We often think of Paris as a vast city, both in size and in the variety of offerings and quality of life it provides. While the last two points are quite true, when it comes to area, the capital doesn't actually take the top spot on the podium. Another city indeed far surpasses the City of Light. So, who gets to snag the gold?

As we know, on the scale of France, Paris is far, very far from being at the top of the ranking, with its approximately 105 km². For example, the city of Arles is equivalent to 7 times the area of the capital (which only represents half of London, by the way). But even when we consider only the region Île-de-France, the capital is only second on the list, behind the charming town of… Fontainebleau!


Is that cheating?

Located in Seine-et-Marne, this charming flower-filled commune boasts 172 km², which is 67 more than the City of Light. A huge area that includes a town full of charm, a magnificent castle, and a vast forest of the same name. This forest, while it also extends into other neighboring towns, covers the majority of the town.

> from Fontainebleau. And for good reason, it spans no less than 22,000 hectares.

Some might then protest and declare that it's cheating, and that Paris deserves to be ahead, and that the woods don't count, and so on, and so forth... We just want to remind them that while they may not represent the majority of the territory, the woods of...Boulogne and Vincennes do increase the area of the capital, and without them, the latter would be even lower in the rankings. There you go.


A city full of charm

Beyond its honorary title as the largest city in Île-de-France, Fontainebleau is a little piece of paradise less than an hour from the capital, easily reachable with the Pass Navigo. It's the perfect spot to enjoy a little weekend away from the hustle and bustle of Parisian crowds, without having to spend the equivalent of 3 months' salary on plane or train tickets.

Here, you'll discover a charming place that will delight both history buffs—the city has a rich past— and food lovers—it's full of great little restaurants— as well as strollers—thanks to the gigantic forest and magnificent park around the castle. We can't help but recommend visiting the castle itself, a cozy little abode with 1500 rooms that’s classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. In short, Fontainebleau is a true haven of peace, just a stone's throw away from surpassing the capital in every way.

Fontainebleau (77300)
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