Château de Pierrefonds
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May 16
Pierrefonds Castle is a majestic fortress in the north of France, located in the Hauts-de-France region, near Compiegne. This castle, which combines the features of a real medieval fortress and romantic Neo-Gothic, is often called the "ideal knight's castle."
History of the castle
- Medieval period: The first fortress on this site was built in the 12th century, but the castle acquired its current appearance in the 14th century under Louis d'orleans, the brother of King Charles VI.
- Destruction and restoration: In the 17th century, Cardinal Richelieu ordered the partial destruction of the castle to prevent its use by rebels. For a long time it lay in ruins, until in the 19th century Napoleon III commissioned the architect Eugene Viollet-le-Duc to restore it.
- Reconstruction: Viollet-le-Duc, the famous restorer of Notre Dame Cathedral, turned Pierrefonds into an idealized example of a medieval castle, adding elements of Neo-Gothic and romanticism.
Architecture and interiors
- Style: Neo-Gothic with elements of medieval military architecture.
- Features:
- Powerful towers and a dungeon (main tower).
- Courtyard with Gothic-style galleries.
- Luxurious halls decorated with tapestries and sculptures.
- Fireplace room with a huge fireplace and carved wooden panels.
- Chapel and knight's hall, created already in the 19th century, but stylized in the Middle Ages.
Interesting facts
- Movie Star: The castle is often filmed in films and TV series, for example:
- "Merlin" (BBC) — Camelot was filmed here.
- "The Man in the Iron Mask" (1998).
- "Django" (Francois Corbet, 1966).
- Unfinished project: Viollet-le-Duc planned to decorate the castle even more, but work stopped after his death.
- Museum: Today the castle houses the Museum of National Monuments of France with a collection of sculptures and architectural models.
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