If you are reading this review then you are probably considering staying at Le Grand Autreval - in which case don't hesitate, this is a beautiful gite and definitely the best place to stay in Pierrefonds. The owners are lovely hosts and have created a warm and welcoming but also very stylish place to stay. The location can't be bettered, set very peacefully along a rural private drive that literally hugs the base of the chateau mount, about 5 mins walk from the centre of the town. There are two spacious bedrooms with very comfortable beds and French linen, a lovely lounge/kitchen with hob, oven, microwave, dishwasher and TWO coffee-machines (Nespresso-style and filter - with extremely nice coffee provided for each), and a big bathroom with monsoon shower and separate toilet. A large selection of towels are provided and there is also a hairdryer. It was the little added touches that made it particularly special however - mini toiletries, gorgeous home-made jams, champagne, juice, water and butter etc, logs loaded ready to go in the wood-fired stove, and more ... Outside there is a small seating area and a barbecue, again with wood and briquettes provided. A beautiful place that we truly didn't want to leave. It is well worth staying in Pierrefonds rather than just visiting for the day. We decided to holiday here because of our two 'Merlin'-mad children and are delighted we did so. It is a delightful small town, with a friendly traditional cafe, lovely boulangerie and boucherie, a bank, post office, useful greengrocer, pharmacy and a few other restaurants and cafes (and you can find Carrefour and Lidl in nearby Compiegne). The Chateau (BBC's 'Camelot') is a stunning, complete castle, and remarkably cheap by UK standards (free under the age of 26!, and only 6 euros per adult). We easily spent a couple of days there playing knights and set-spotting. Taking a pedalo on the town lake is a must, while my children also discovered a passion for mini-golf. But Pierrefonds is also a great base for exploring the wider area and a quieter place to stay than the town of Compiegne - the beautiful forest, the Palais de Compiegne, Chantilly, the train carriage where WW1 Armistice was signed, many of the WW1 cemeteries etc are all short drives away. Paris and Disneyland are also in easy reach if you want more bustle. To sum up, you can't fail to have a lovely holiday if you stay here. We cannot recommend it highly enough and are already planning to come back next year!!!