Museum of the fire departments in Fontainebleau

Who would have known that tucked under the fire department in Fontainebleau is a museum of firefighting? It is great and well worth a visit. It has helmets and trucks and firefighting trolleys (they had to pull them in the old days), motorcycles, hoses, photos, medallions,uniforms, suits, axes... It's a treasure trove.

It is also a bit weird to get to. Parking is dodgy, the door to the firestation is locked and it was only on my second time trying to open it that someone came and let us in. He was very nice though and took us down, turned on the lights, pointed out the best parts and was very generous about my French.

The downside is that it is only open from 2:30pm to 4:00pm on Wednesdays. Parking is basically straight outside the Fire Station on Place Orloff.

Now to find that Police museum!

Note: There is another firefighting museum in Milly La Foret. The police museum in Fontainebleau is never open but there is one in Melun that is great.