If you are planning a weekend getaway to  Paris anytime soon, then this stunning forest trip needs to be on your itinerary.

Just 40 minutes by train from the city of love, Fontainebleau Forest offers hundreds of miles of walking tracks as well as a gorgeous manor house you can explore. 

Fontainebleau is the only château to have been inhabited by all the monarchs from the twelfth to the nineteenth century, and has been a dedicated UNESCO World Heritage site since 1981. 

The château was completely refurbished by Napoleon after the  French Revolution and his private apartments can be explored today, as well as a museum dedicated to the history of the château.

If you grow tired of exploring the incredible architecture, art and history in the château then the forest awaits.

This 49,000-acre forest is one of the biggest in France.

Miles of winding paths through the woods dotted with boulders to climb and awe-inspiring views make Fontainebleau Forest one of the most gorgeous walks in the country. 

With a five star rating on TripAdvisor, this national park is beautiful at all times of the year so you don’t need to worry about timing your visit.

One visitor said the forest is a perfect place to “get lost in your thoughts”.

“The forest is beautiful all throughout the year, whether you visit in winter, spring, summer or fall, it’ll always have something to offer,” they wrote on TripAdvisor.

“There are many boulders and rocks to climb and it’s a great place for hiking as well. I recommend visiting for a pleasant walk through this magical forest.”

If you don’t want to walk then you have options as well.

Fontainebleau-Avon train station and the tourist office can arrange excursions from horseback riding to carriage rides pulled by sled dogs.

If you want to explore the region then you can take the train from Gare de Lyon in Paris to Fontainebleau-Avon, where you can make your way to the forest.

The train takes just under 40 minutes, making the perfect day trip out of the city.