NORTH OF PARIS OISE PIERREFONDS CASTLE

The eight towers of the castle of Pierrefonds rise up from a woodland setting on the edge of the great forest of Compiègne. The majestic castle looks like it emerged out of the Middle Ages but the current edifice was re-built in the 19th century by the architect Eugène Viollet-le-duc who was commissioned by Napoleon III to create an imperial residence on the site of the original 14th century fortress that was dismantled in 1617 and remained in ruins until Violletle-duc created a stunning castle combining elements of medieval and Renaissance architecture.