Free walking tours in Pierrefonds and what to see

Must-sees

Pierrefonds is a village in the Oise department, on the edge of the Compiègne forest, dominated by a great castle of medieval appearance. The fortress was built by Louis of Orléans at the end of the 14th century and fell into ruin after being dismantled in the 17th century. Napoleon III, who spent time at the nearby Palace of Compiègne, commissioned Viollet-le-Duc to restore it, and he ended up rebuilding it as a medieval-style imperial residence.

The castle is run by the Centre des monuments nationaux. From outside, its eight great towers and the wall walk are impressive; inside, the main courtyard, the chapel and the Salle des Preuses, a huge hall with a fireplace presided over by nine heroines. The decoration mixes fantastic animals, plant motifs and imperial eagles. Below, the village surrounds a small lake with a view of the castle, holiday houses and the old spa building.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no free walking tours in Pierrefonds. What Civitatis offers is a ticket for the castle, which you can explore at your own pace through the courtyard, the chapel, the imperial rooms and the Salle des Preuses. The village and the lakeshore are easy to see on your own. For walking or cycling, the Compiègne forest has waymarked paths leading from the village itself to hamlets such as Saint-Jean-aux-Bois.

How long to spend

The castle visit takes an hour and a half to two hours. Add a walk around the lake and the village streets and you will have a well-spent half day. With a full day you can add Compiègne, about fifteen kilometres away, with its palace and historic centre, or a route through the forest. If you are driving from Paris, the journey takes just over an hour.

Where to stay

Pierrefonds has few hotels, some guesthouses and rural accommodation, almost all near the lake and the centre, with the castle a few minutes’ walk away. In the evening, when the day visitors leave, the village is very quiet. The forest hamlets, such as Saint-Jean-aux-Bois, have country houses and rooms for those seeking nature. Compiègne is the option with the most choice and good train links.