Compiègne has another former royal hunting château. This one was beautifully renovated in the mid-18th century by Ange-Jacques Gabriel, the king's First Architect, who was in my opinion either one of history's most talented façade designers, or had wisely hired an architect with such a talent to work in his studio. The entrance court, for example, displays the same grace and flawless taste as many of his other buildings of that period (i.e. the Petit Trianon at Versailles, and the Hôtel de Crillon and the French Naval Ministry, the twin buildings on the north side of the Place de la Concorde).
Many rooms were later redecorated by Napoleon (speaking of taste, the Empress's Bedroom prefigures Vegas!). There is, of course, a large garden associated with the château, and the town itself is also quite attractive, with plenty of elegant 18th-century buildings and some interesting Gothic churches.
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