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Origin and history

Fontainebleau's four pointers were installed in 1786 alongside Marie-Antoinette's obelisk, erected in the centre of the Place de l'Obelisque. They initially marked the intersection of the roads leading to Nemours, Moret, Bourron and Ury. These Milestone columns, symbols of the Ancien Régime, underwent modifications during the French Revolution, including the withdrawal of the fleurs de lys in 1793 and the addition of a Phrygian cap in 1792, later replaced by an imperial eagle under Napoleon in 1805.

In 1817 the architect Maximilien Hurtault restored the obelisk and the pillars, placing them on the sides with chains of protection. The inscriptions, deleted and restored in 1864, almost disappeared in 1912. In 2016, a redevelopment of the junction led to the transfer of the terminals to road intersections. These landmarks, which have been listed as historical monuments since 1949, have been part of the national estate of Fontainebleau Castle and UNESCO's World Heritage perimeter since 1981.

The obelisk, 21 meters high, pays tribute to Marie-Antoinette and her children, with inscriptions on her four faces. The terminals, for their part, have been moved several times, notably during the work in 2016. Their history reflects the political and symbolic changes of France, from the monarchy to the Revolution, through the Empire and the Restoration.

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