Château de Pierrefonds, Pierrefonds, Oise, Picardy, France.

It is quite ironic to see that the BBC went to France to find the ideal set for its series about Merlin.

The castle itself is one of the nicest renovated buildings I have seen in a long time. At the time I visited the castle I didn't know the series was going to be filmed there.  I took quite a few reference photos of the castle just in case I had to produce something in this style.  Here's a selection of them (click read more to see them)

Bendictine is a liquor, also known blended with cognac as the famous B&B cocktail.

In Fécamp, not that far from the famous 'Pont de Normandy' you can visit the distilery and palace where they distill Benedictine.  If you're in the neighborhood it 's certainly worth a visit.