Fontainebleau forest

The Fontainebleau forest, located approximately 60 km south-east of Paris, is a sprawling area that was once a royal hunting preserve and is now known for its quiet villages. Recently, it has become newsworthy due to a "very virulent" wildfire of "exceptional scale" that erupted in the region. Firefighting planes were deployed to combat the blaze, which raced across an estimated 800 hectares (2,000 acres). The fire caused significant disruption, partially closing France's main north-south highway and impacting summer travel. The incident highlights the forest's vulnerability to large-scale fires and its proximity to major transportation routes, underscoring its current relevance as a site of environmental concern and logistical challenge.