Europe · France · Hauts-de-France
Château de Pierrefonds
The story
History of Château de Pierrefonds
A ruined medieval stronghold rebuilt by Viollet-le-Duc for Napoleon III into the archetypal French castle, now a favourite of film crews.
France · Hauts-de-France · Gothic Revival
- Built
- from 1393
- Era
- Medieval
- Style
- Gothic Revival
- Country
- France
- Region
- Hauts-de-France
- UNESCO
- —
- Coordinates
- 49.350, 2.980
In depth
The fuller history
In the 12th century, a castle was built on this site. Two centuries later, in 1392, King Charles VI turned the County of Valois (of which Pierrefonds was part) into a duchy and gave it to his brother Louis I, Duke of Orléans. From 1393 to his death in 1407, the latter had the castle rebuilt by the court architect, Jean le Noir.
In March 1617, during the early troubled days of Louis XIII's reign, the castle, then the property of François Annibal d'Estrées (brother of Gabrielle d'Estrées, mistress and advisor to Henri IV), who joined the "parti des mécontents" (party of discontent) led by Henri II, Prince of Condé, was besieged and taken by troops sent by Cardinal Richelieu, the secretary of state for war. Its demolition was started, but not carried through to the end because of the enormity of the task. The exterior works were razed, the roofs destroyed and holes made in the towers and curtain walls.
Key dates
- 1393From 1393 to his death in 1407, the latter had the castle rebuilt by the court architect, Jean le Noir.
- 1832During the 19th century, with the rediscovery of the architectural heritage of the Middle Ages, it became a "romantic ruin": in August 1832, Louis Philippe I gave a banquet there on the occasion of the marriage of his daughter…
- 1857As emperor, in 1857 he asked Eugène Viollet-le-Duc to undertake its restoration, which was continued by Maurice Ouadou and then Juste Lisch until 1885.
- 1861In 1861, the project grew in scale: the sovereign wanted to create an imperial residence, so the castle was to be entirely rebuilt.
Historical summary drawn from Wikipedia. Read the full article.
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