Château de Pierrefonds

The Château de Pierrefonds is situated in the town of Pierrefonds in the Oise department, at the edge of the Compiègne forest. This massive fortress was reconstructed in 1396 by Louis I, duke of Orléans and then was dismantled under Louis XIII and only ruins remained. The castle was bought by Napoleon I two centuries later. During the 19th cenetury, a passion for the Middle-Age architetectural heritage appeared in the society and Napoleon Bonaparte asked architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc to restaure it.

The architect did so but the project swelled to a bigger proportion when the emperor decided to make it an imperial residence in order to house his weapons and armours collection. Under the leadership of Viollet-le-Duc who let his imagination run free, the castle was entirely reconstructed and redecorated. The Château de Pierrefonds was listed as a French historical monument in 1862. Today, you can wander around the patrol walkway, discover the extraordinary decors of the emperor Napoleon III appartments and the amazing architecture of the Grand Corps des Logis, the biggest room of the castle, and enjoy the several art collections within the fortress.