The Château de Pierrefonds in the Oise department of Picardy, France

© Hemis/Alam

A castle full of history. The Château de Pierrefonds in the Oise department of Picardy, France

The Château de Pierrefonds has a rich and complex history dating back to the Middle Ages. It was built in the 14th century by Louis d'Orléans, brother of King Charles VI of France, on the ruins of an older castle. After being besieged and dismantled at the beginning of the 17th century by the troops of Louis XIII, the castle remained under the state of ruin until the 19th century when Napoleon III asked the architect Viollet-le-Duc to restore it. It will use innovative reconstruction techniques to restore damaged parts of the castle.

The Château de Pierrefonds has been used as a setting for many film and television productions, notably in the series "Merlin". It is also very popular for its gardens and walks, which offer beautiful views of the castle and the surrounding area.