Château de Pierrefonds
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Château de Pierrefonds - a journey back to the Middle Ages
Near Compiègne, on the edge of the forest, the Château de Pierrefonds is a great castle to visit for all the family.
A completely mad architectural melting-pot, the fantasy castle has double ramparts, bartizans, arrow slits, machicolations, rampart walks, a keep, eight crenelated towers and a main courtyard : everything is outrageously over-sized and like a film set !
A very famous castle, an idyllic lake, good restaurants and little shops, the village of Pierrefonds is a wonderful haven of peace, perfect for Sunday family outings.
The Château de Pierrefonds stands on the edge of the Compiègne Forest. Built at the end of the 14th century by Louis d’Orléans and restored by Viollet-le-Duc for Napoleon III, it epitomizes medieval architecture.
Cross the drawbridge into the main courtyard, go up the steps and start to walk through the rooms of the castle. This journey back to the time of knights and princesses will delight all the family ! The extraordinary place is very popular with film and TV producers, like the BBC series “Merlin” !
Don’t miss the «Bal des Gisants », a permanent exhibition in the mysterious cellars of the castle where lighting, sound and audiovisual effects, whispered poems and murmurs bring around a hundred recumbent and praying figures to life.
Workshops and family tours are organized during the (French) school holidays. More info is available from the castle reception !
From the Château de Pierrefonds to the Compiègne Forest
Close to Pierrefonds is the Forêt de Compiègne, one of the largest forests in France with an area of 14,000 hectares. A multitude of paths and greenways for walking, cycling and horse riding criss-cross the historic forest, one of them links Compiègne to Pierrefonds and offers a magnificent view of the castle majestically emerging from the trees seeming to pierce the heavens in its stone armour.
You can also hire a pedalo for a romantic or family outing on the lake at the foot of the castle ! Generations of locals have pedalled around Lac de Pierrefonds to view the castle from different angles among mallards, moorhens and water lilies.
« It’s always a pleasure to see my two little boys making up stories and playing at being knights in this wonderful place. A life-size fairy tale castle is as good as it gets for them ! » Gîtes de France de l'Oise
Opening times for Pierrefonds
2 January - 30 April : every day 10.00 - 17.30
2 May - 4 September : every day 09.30 – 18.00
5 September - 31 December : every day 10.00 – 17.30
Closed : 1 January, 1 May and 25 December
How to get to Pierrefonds
From Paris : A1, exit n°9, D200 towards Compiègne then D973
From Lille : A1, exit n°11, D935 to Compiègne then D973
From Reims : N 31 towards Compiègne then D335"
