Castle of Pierrefonds, Gothic castle in Pierrefonds, France.
The Castle of Pierrefonds is a Gothic fortress in the town of Pierrefonds, northern France. Eight cylindrical towers with pointed roofs surround an inner courtyard decorated with sculptures of mythical creatures and historical figures.
Louis of Orléans commissioned the fortress in 1393 to secure the northern approaches to Paris. After heavy damage in the 17th century, the castle remained a ruin until the mid-19th century.
The castle takes its name from the village of Pierrefonds, where the Nivelon family, lords of Pierrefonds from Quierzy, built a castle in the 12th century; only cellars beneath the 11th-century dwelling survive. Eight towers bear the names of the Nine Worthies, among them Julius Caesar and Charlemagne, whose statues decorate the towers. In the Salle des Preux, a monumental fireplace carries the statues of the nine female Worthies, the Preuses.
The visit follows guided routes through the halls and inner courtyard, with the main entrance ramp providing access for most visitors. The towers and upper galleries require climbing stairs.
Eugène Viollet-le-Duc directed the restoration starting in 1857 and added imaginative elements reflecting his vision of medieval architecture. The halls and towers today show his interpretation of the Middle Ages rather than the original 14th-century state.
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