Unusual: we tested a hot-air balloon flight in Fontainebleau over the Ile-de-France region - promo

How about a breathtaking view over Fontainebleau? We're off to try out hot-air ballooning over the Île-de-France region, a magical experience we'd like to share with you.

Do you like to get off the beaten track, or just want to experience the thrill of a hot-air balloon flight? Did you know it was possible in Ile-de-France? We set off from Fontainebleau with France Montgolfières to try it out, and we'd like to share our experience with you.

Fontainebleau 'sunusual and fascinating hot-air balloon flight over the Île-de-France region is a unique adventure. The experience, open to all from April to the end of October, offers unparalleled views of this region rich in history and nature. Like a bird, you'll soar through the air, guided by the whims of the wind, offering breathtaking panoramas.

France Montgolfières offers two flights a day, weather permitting. One at sunrise and another two hours before sunset. After confirming departure the day before, depending on the weather, you'll find yourself behind the Château de Fontainebleau at 5.30am. And yes, to fly and admire the sunrise, you need to be close to the owls.

Organizer's note:

Currently, Special Ile de France tickets valid only in this region, 7D/7 are €195 instead of €240 - Book your flight now!

On site, the whole team and the special carriages. That day, 3 hot-air balloons were at the start. We wait for everyone to arrive, because if anyone is missing, the balloon can't take off, as it requires a certain weight. Our captain launches a small balloon filled with helium to determine the strength and direction of the wind. Based on the results, the whole team determines the starting point of the flight. Today, we won't be flying over the castle, because we need enough wind in one direction, we're told, to be sure of passing over the town.

So we all climbed into the France Montgolfières vans and headed for the fields of Dormelles. On site, we're debriefed on the safety instructions (don't turn around the basket, avoid walking in front of the snowblowers to avoid getting your hair caught, learn the prone landing position and be ready to climb into the basket as soon as it straightens out.

We watch the astonishing installation of the balloons and their inflation, which lasts around 15 minutes. Then we climb in and take off almost immediately. Our flight that day took us over pretty Seine-et-Marne villages like Flagy, which we had visited the day before and which takes on a whole new look from above.

We fly over the Forêt de Fontainebleau, caressing the treetops and letting the wind carry us. It's important to remember that even France Montgolfières doesn't know the route the balloons will take in advance. The arrival point is estimated but not known at the outset, so the carriages and vans follow us on sight and within radio range to pick us up later.

A sublime sunrise greeted us, and we admired the fields and streams in the distance, in a calm punctuated by the release of gas and flames that allowed us to go up and down, and also to keep out the cold. With us, a smaller, more malleable balloon had the pleasure of skimming over a field of sunflowers.

Conditions were ideal that day, and we had the luxury of a soft, vertical landing in a field at Esmans. We wait for the green light from our commander before descending, otherwise the balloon will take off again. Once down, we help deflate and roll up the balloon for about thirty minutes. After these little joint efforts, France Montgolfière offers us a magical drink in the middle of a field, with the added bonus of pastries for a most unusual breakfast. The perfect way to round off this fantastic experience. The vans then take us back to the departure point.