The Arboretum de Franchard nestles in the heart of the Fontainebleau forest in Seine-et-Marne, just an hour from Paris. The Arboretum offers a pleasant stroll in the heart of nature, a stone's throw from the Château de Fontainebleau and free to all. The 20-hectare site, called Arbor&Sens, invites young and old alike on an educational journey that awakens the senses, while highlighting the richness of forest biodiversity. The Office National des Forêts(ONF), in collaboration with associations such as Valentin Haüy andAdapei, has created this trail with a dual objective of environmental awareness and accessibility.
To find this arboretum, first reach the parking lot on the Route du Long Boyau on the D301. On arrival, an explanatory sign unveils the route, which takes around 1 hour to complete. Before you set off, we recommend you download the free Balade Branchée app and the Arbor&Sens circuit from Apple Store or Google Play. The app's audio guides enrich the walk with geolocated commentary, anecdotes and sounds, bringing the forest to life and making it accessible to all, including the blind and visually impaired.
Along a 1.5 km trail, you'll be guided by a breadcrumb trail (which allows blind people to move forward without fear), discovering tree species from all over the world. The itinerary is punctuated by embossed and Braille signs and sandstone passages.
This arboretum, which extends over a site rehabilitated following a fire in 1973, was developed in 2015 to become a biodiversity education site. The selection of trees here is varied, offering a window onto the different uses and particularities of wood species. For example, we learn about the use of pear resin in the manufacture of sunglasses, or that the birch is nicknamed the tree of newlyweds. We also learn that oak from the Forêt de Fontainebleau is highly prized for making wine barrels.
The Arboretum de Franchard is easily accessible, offering a secure, fenced-in area perfect for a family outing. Along the way, you'll discover educational markers and panels that tell you all about the trees' names, origins and uses. Bark, leaves, trunks, leaves and fruit, we love discovering all the special features of the different species, sometimes imported from far and wide.
The good thing about this walk is that even in wet or rainy weather, the path is not muddy. As the Fontainebleau forest is on a bed of sand, and the path is often covered with grass, you'll get out without turning your shoes into clods of earth. The trail is flat, suitable for all ages and levels of difficulty, and is also accessible for baby carriages.
In short, theArboretum de Franchard offers a rewarding walk in one of France's most beautiful forests. It's an invitation to discover, smell, listen to and touch nature, while learning about the diversity of trees and their importance to our ecosystem. A fun walk for both body and mind, accessible to all and entirely free of charge.
Location
Parking de la route du long boyau
Route du Long Boyau
77300 Fontainebleau
Prices
Free
Recommended age
For all
Official website
www.fontainebleau-tourisme.com
