What is "perron"

Perron \Per"ron\, n. [F.] (Arch.) An out-of-door flight of steps, as in a garden, leading to a terrace or to an upper story; -- usually applied to medi[ae]vel or later structures of some architectural pretensions.

n. (label en historical) A stone block used as the base of a monument, marker, etc.

Perron may refer to:

A perron ( French; ) is a stone column, often decorated with a globus cruciger, that was erected in cities belonging to the erstwhile Prince-Bishopric of Liège (980-1795). They were primarily built in the so-called Good Cities that formed the primary towns of the polity. Many survive, though not in their original form.

The columns came to symbolise local freedom and autonomy (initially bishopric autonomy, later urban autonomy). This stemmed from their function as place where laws were stated, and justice was administered. However, the actual origin of the symbols of the column is unclear. In 1467, after recapturing the rebellious city of Liège, Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy had the city's perron dismantled and removed to Bruges, not to be returned until after his death. This was "viewed both as a punishment of the people of Liège and as a clear warning to any Flemish subjects who might be tempted to question the duke's authority".

A perron in architecture generally refers to an external stairway to a building. Curl notes 3 more specific usages: the platform-landing reached by symmetrical flights of steps leading to the piano nobile of a building; the steps themselves; or the platform base of edifices like a market cross.

A perron may be placed in front of the main entrance of a building or house, either as a single stone staircase or pair of such staircases leading up to the entrance and built in the Romanesque or Palladian styles and decorated with arches, balustrades and corbels.

One of the largest and most impressive baroque perrons is found outside Girona Cathedral and consists of 90 steps on three flights of stairs. The Calà del Sasso in Upper Italy has 4,444 steps and is one of the largest outside staircases in Europe. Also well known are the Spanish Steps in Rome, that lead from the Piazza di Spagna to the church of Santa Trinità dei Monti. At the theatre of Freilichtspiele Schwäbisch Hall, the perron in front of the town church is the main stage for theatre productions. The Strudlhofstiege in Vienna, an art nouveau style perron, is well known because it forms the title of a novel by Heimito von Doderer.

The Weinbergtreppe or Weinbergstaffel is the name given to the outside steps used in vineyards. They are very steep and are often placed between high vineyard walls. They are normally made of natural stone ashlars.