The courtyard of honor

Let yourself be dazzled by the layout and sculpted decorations of the courtyard of honor, the real highlight of the visit to the castle.

An architectural anthology

Once you have crossed the drawbridge, discover a courtyard of honor of great architectural wealth.

This is one of the castle's must-sees: take your time to appreciate it during your visit.

This courtyard, which covers nearly 700^m2, is a real architectural gem. Romanesque art rubs shoulders with Renaissance, Neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau.

What a contrast with the military severity of the exterior facades!

Château de Pierrefonds, statue équestre de Louis d'Orléans
© Colombe Clier / Centre des monuments nationaux

Raise your eyes and discover an architectural subterfuge!

Indeed, the large main building, on the courtyard side, is on four levels (open gallery, closed gallery, large bays opening onto the terrace and roof dormers), while the wing has only two floors: the guards' and mercenaries' room and the Preuses' room.

Approach the superb bronze equestrian statue representing the Duke Louis d'Orléans. The work of the sculptor Emmanuel Fremiet, it has been enthroned on its pedestal since January 17, 1875.

But that's not all! Four stone chimeras open the passage of the main staircase. Also sculpted by Emmanuel Fremiet in 1869, they are the result of the imagination of Eugène Viollet-le-Duc.

Galerie ouverte de la cour d'honneur
© K.Léchevin/Centre des monuments nationaux

A life-size hide-and-seek : it's up to you to play !

Open your eyes, the famous architect Viollet-le-Duc hides behind the features of a pilgrim of Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle : he welcomes you at the entrance of the chapel.

The cat, the architect's favorite animal, is represented many times in the courtyard.

Look up and have fun counting them!