Logis Hôtel Beaudon
Why we like it: Hotel open all year in the village of Pierrefonds, facing the lake and the castle, with a restaurant, terrace and adapted rooms.
Duration1 night
From ParisCar · 45 min to Senlis
Best timeApr · May · Jun · Sep · Oct
Budget€130–220 pp
Getting thereCar, A1
The plan
The plan, hour by hour
Designed for a Saturday and Sunday by car, leaving Paris on the A1. Avoid having it fall on a Monday or Tuesday: the Senlis museum closes those days, and the Compiègne palace and the Armistice memorial close on Tuesdays. Book the room in Pierrefonds in good time.
Saturday
- 110:00Senlis cathedral
One of the first Gothic cathedrals in France, free, with a video guide from the tourist office.
- 210:45The medieval town
The signposted circuit along the Gallo-Roman wall, the royal castle and the chapel with the Miró stained glass.
- 312:30Lunch at the Bistrot de la Place
Facing the cathedral, home cooking; midday menu at €25 from Tuesday to Friday.
- 414:45The park and the Beaux-Monts
About 40 minutes by car. A walk along the 4 km vista towards the forest; from November to February the park closes at 17:00.
- 515:45Compiègne palace
The imperial apartments until 18:00 (last entry 17:15); on Saturday afternoon, also the Carriage Museum. €10, free for under-26s. Then to Pierrefonds and dinner at Le Beaudon.
Sunday
- 110:00The Armistice clearing
The 1918 carriage in its museum in the forest, from 10:00 to 17:30.
- 211:45Pierrefonds castle
Two hours through the courtyard, the keep and the Empress's apartments. €9, free for under-18s.
- 313:45Lunch and return
At Le Beaudon, which opens at midday on Sunday, or in the village, and back to Paris by the A1, about 80 minutes.
North of Paris, the Oise département holds the France of kings and emperors: the town where Hugh Capet was elected in 987, the autumn palace of Napoleon III and Eugénie de Montijo and a medieval castle dreamt up by Viollet-le-Duc, all in the Compiègne forest, the court's hunting ground. 45 minutes from Paris by the A1, with a night facing Lake Pierrefonds.
Where to sleep?
| Hotel | Best for | For whom |
|---|---|---|
| Logis Hôtel Beaudon | Facing the lake and Pierrefonds castle, with restaurant | Waking up with the towers in view |
| Alfred Hotels Compiègne | 300 m from the station, on the banks of the Oise | If you go by train or prefer the town |
How much does it cost?
Between €130 and €220 per person with one night sharing a room, tickets (Senlis €7 if you enter the museum, Compiègne €10, Pierrefonds €9), meals and petrol. With children and young people it costs much less: the three national monuments are free for them.
Map
The stops, in order
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Plan the trip
Pierrefonds and Compiègne, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Pierrefonds and Compiègne
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
The same break, your way
The plan stays the same. What changes is where you sleep, how you get there and how much you spend.
Flying to Paris and Compiègne on the Northern Road
Compiègne and Pierrefonds lie north of Paris, on the Charles de Gaulle airport side, which has direct flights from the main Spanish cities. With a hire car at CDG, the A1 takes you north without going through Paris.
- Getting thereParis-Charles de Gaulle (CDG): hire…
- Getting aroundHire car to combine palace…
- Where to stayAlfred Hotels Compiègne, next to…
- ServicesTourist offices in Compiègne and…
Getting there
- Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG): hire car and A1, or RER B to Gare du Nord and a train to Compiègne
- Paris-Orly (ORY): to central Paris and a train from Gare du Nord
- Paris-Beauvais (BVA): the nearest airport to the west, by car
Getting around
- Hire car to combine palace, castle and forest
- Train and bus if you stay in Compiègne
Where to stay
- Alfred Hotels Compiègne, next to the station
- Logis Hôtel Beaudon, in Pierrefonds
Services
- Tourist offices in Compiègne and in Pierrefonds
Compiègne and Pierrefonds by Car
The car is what makes this day comfortable: the Compiègne Palace, Pierrefonds Castle and the Armistice Clearing are separated by forest roads, and by car all three fit in one day. From Paris, take the A1 as far as exit 9.
100–190 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to stayLogis Hôtel Beaudon, in Pierrefonds…
- Getting aroundA1 exit 9 and D…
- Where to eatLe Beaudon restaurant, in Pierrefonds…
- ServicesCar parks next to the…
Where to stay
- Logis Hôtel Beaudon, in Pierrefonds, facing the lake and the castle
- Alfred Hotels Compiègne, with private parking at €12 a day
Getting around
- A1 exit 9 and D 200 towards Compiègne; D 973 towards Pierrefonds
- Straight forest roads between Compiègne, the Armistice Clearing and Pierrefonds
Where to eat
- Le Beaudon restaurant, in Pierrefonds, open Sunday lunchtime
- Le Jardin des Roses, in the palace park
Services
- Car parks next to the Compiègne Palace
Compiègne and Pierrefonds by Train
Without a car, Compiègne is easy: a train from Gare du Nord and ten minutes' walk to the palace. Pierrefonds needs a bus from Compiègne station, and the Armistice Clearing, a taxi. If you only have one day, choose the palace or the castle; with one night, you can do both.
90–170 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to stayAlfred Hotels Compiègne, 300 m…
- Getting aroundTrain from Gare du Nord…
- Where to eatLe Jardin des Roses, in…
- ServicesTourist office on the town…
Where to stay
- Alfred Hotels Compiègne, 300 m from the station
- Logis Hôtel Beaudon, in Pierrefonds, a few steps from the castle
Getting around
- Train from Gare du Nord, 40 minutes to 1 h 20
- Free city buses Monday to Saturday
- Bus from Compiègne station to Pierrefonds
Where to eat
- Le Jardin des Roses, in the palace park
- Le Beaudon restaurant, in Pierrefonds
Services
- Tourist office on the town hall square in Compiègne
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights1
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're flyingif you're drivingwithout a car
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Alfred Hotels Compiègne
Why we like it: Three-star hotel with 56 rooms on the banks of the Oise, 300 metres from Compiègne station and close to the historic centre and the palace.
Services for this trip
Where to eat
Where to eat in Pierrefonds and Compiègne
Le Beaudon Restaurant
What to order: the seasonal menu on the terrace overlooking the lake and the castle
Open every day at lunchtime, Sundays included; no dinner on Sundays
Restaurant and tea room in the park
Le Jardin des Roses
What to order: an afternoon snack after the imperial apartments
In the palace park; next to the main entrance there is also a takeaway kiosk
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Neither Monday nor Tuesday
The museums and the palace close those days.
- 2First Sunday of the month
The Compiègne palace is free; Pierrefonds, in January, February, March, November and December.
- 3Without a car
Train to Compiègne from Gare du Nord and bus to Pierrefonds; Senlis is then left for another day.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth sleeping in Pierrefonds?
Yes: the castle at dusk, from the lake, is the best image of the weekend, and on Sunday you start without a car.
Can it be done in a day?
Compiègne and Pierrefonds, yes; with Senlis, better one night.
Is it a good plan with children?
Yes: they love Pierrefonds and the Carriage Museum, and tickets are free for minors.