Château de Pierrefonds: Tickets, Hours, the Empress's Apartments and Getting There from Paris

Updated on October 7, 2026

The Château de Pierrefonds, in the Oise about 80 km from Paris, is a medieval fortress rebuilt in the 19th century by the architect Viollet-le-Duc for Napoleon III. A ticket costs 9 euros; the monument is open every day except three public holidays, from 10:00 to 17:30 from September to April and from 09:30 to 18:00 from May to early September. It can be visited in one to two hours and combines well with Compiègne. It is run by the Centre des monuments nationaux.

Highlights

A château reinvented by Viollet-le-Duc

The towers, curtain walls and pointed roofs are the work of the restoration carried out in the 19th century by Viollet-le-Duc. The château is a famous example of neo-medieval architecture.

The main courtyard and the entrance

You enter over the access bridge and come out into the main courtyard, where the visitor routes begin. The silhouette of the big towers is best seen from the esplanade.

The chapel and its rose window

The chapel is part of the visitor route. Its stone rose window is one of the finest neo-Gothic details of the château.

The sculptures and the decoration

In the courtyard, carved creatures such as this monster adorn the walls and corners. They are part of the decoration conceived by Viollet-le-Duc.

Practical info

Tips

Full-price ticket: 9 euros. Free for under-18s, 18-25-year-olds residing in the European Union, people with disabilities and their companion, job seekers, and on the first Sunday of January, February, March, November and December. The audioguide costs 4 euros. Combined tickets exist: 15 euros with Villers-Cotterêts, 20 euros for the three-site pass. Note: the Salle des Preuses is closed for the second phase of restoration. The Empress's apartments have reopened since 5 May 2026, with the "Saison Eugénie" exhibition until 15 November 2026. Prices and openings noted in October 2026. For another day out in the Oise, see the Château de Chantilly and our guide to day trips from Paris.

How to get there

Address: rue Viollet-le-Duc, 60350 Pierrefonds. By train, take a train from Paris-Gare du Nord to Compiègne (about 50 minutes direct), then continue by bus or taxi, as the château has no direct rail service: check bus times, which are very limited on Sundays, public holidays and in summer. The stations at Crépy-en-Valois and Villers-Cotterêts also serve the area. By car, free parking is on rue Sabatier, about a 10-minute walk away; four electric charging points are available. A cycle route links Compiègne to Pierrefonds (15 km).