The Fontainebleau forest (a vast former royal hunting ground roughly 60 kilometres southeast of Paris), partially ravaged by a wildfire in July that scorched some 2,000 hectares, reopened to the public on Saturday after weeks of restricted access. Around 80 percent of the forest is now accessible, drawing walkers, rock climbers, and outdoor enthusiasts, though the remaining 20 percent stays closed due to the risk of falling burnt trees, with firefighters still tackling hotspots daily. Authorities have banned barbecues and smoking throughout the area, warning that vegetation parched by successive heatwaves remains highly vulnerable to reignition.