After the Fontainebleau fires, customers are staying away

Fontainebleau – 11 August 2026: Restaurants in the town are open and hotels are welcoming guests, but many day-trippers are only returning hesitantly. Four weeks after the severe fires began in the Fontainebleau forest massif, accommodation providers, restaurants and outdoor activity operators are still feeling the effects. Climbers in particular are absent because parts of the forest remain inaccessible.

The fires broke out on 12 July and spread rapidly through Seine-et-Marne. According to the Gendarmerie, more than 2,000 hectares of forest were damaged. Hundreds of emergency personnel were at times engaged in firefighting operations. Although the fires were brought under control, the search for remaining hotspots and the securing of affected areas required extensive restrictions.

This is affecting the region during the holiday season, when many businesses would normally expect day visitors from Paris and international guests. The Fontainebleau forest, known for its sandstone boulders, is one of the world’s most important bouldering areas. Guided tours, equipment rental companies, accommodation providers and restaurants depend on this reputation. When rocks and trails are closed, many travellers lose the main reason for their stay.

The Pays de Fontainebleau tourism office points out that visits to the region are generally still possible. Most accommodation providers and restaurants are open. According to the office, exceptions concern establishments in Achères-la-Forêt, Noisy-sur-École and Le Vaudoué. However, this does little to dispel the uncertainty felt by many guests: those who had primarily planned to come for hiking or bouldering are postponing their stay or choosing another destination.

The access restrictions are intended to protect visitors and emergency personnel. Burned ground can be unstable, while trees weakened by the fire can fall without warning. Safety work is also ongoing. The French Mountain and Climbing Federation, FFME, has therefore urged climbers to comply with all closures and protective measures. The National Forestry Office, ONF, is involved in securing the forest and preparing for its restoration.

At the same time, the criminal investigation into the cause of the fire continues. The Fontainebleau public prosecutor’s office tasked the Paris Gendarmerie investigative division and the local investigative brigade with conducting inquiries. Experts are examining several points where the fires started. The available information does not indicate when all affected areas will be accessible again. For tourism businesses, the economic consequences are already noticeable: as long as key forest areas remain closed, they are particularly missing the guests who travel to Fontainebleau for its boulders, hiking trails and landscape.