Hotel de L’Aigle Noir MGallery, Fontainebleau

L’Hotel de L’Aigle Noir is an MGallery property in Fontainebleau. It’s located literally across the road from the side entrance to le Château de Fontainebleau and just a short distance away from the park.

The hotel is quite busy when I arrive with a large group of scandinavians staying at the hotel for a meeting. As a result, and owing to my status with Accor, I’ve been upgraded to the Napoléon Bonaparte Suite.

And the suite is enormous! Behind the main door is a long corridor that runs the length of the room.

The first right is the toilet and bathroom, with a separate bath and shower – and copious amounts of towels.

Then there is a large sitting room with a sofa, coffee table and desk.

Also, there’s a Nespresso machine and water boiler.

And then comes the bedroom, overlooking the square. The bedroom has four sets of French windows, which give it a bright, airy feel.

Incidentally, the queen bee motif on the curtains, carpets, wallpaper and cushions harks back to Fontainebleau’s royal history. At the French court it was customary to have the queen bee motif embroidered on the royal’s garments or bed clothes as a symbol of their authority.

The furniture in the bedroom is by Ligne Roset, and includes an elegant desk and chair. Which is where I sit and work on my PhD during my stay, when it’s too hot to be out in the midday sun anyway.

As a welcome gift, I’m given a box of chocolates in the shape of Napoléon the third’s iconic hat, which I find rather funny…

The Aigle Noir is what is referred to in France as a garni hotel, which means that it serves breakfast but not lunch or dinner. The breakfast is extensive and features a variety of hot and cold dishes that varies from day to day. There’s no need to worry about them not serving lunch an dinner though, because there are many very good restaurants in easy walking distance to the hotel.

I rather like this hotel. It’s a great place to use as a base to explore Fontainebleau and the surrounding area. The staff are friendly and very knowledgeable about the château.