Curiosities of Saint Germain en Laye , part I !!!

Posted in Food and Wine, France, Versailles

I have come here many times as it was very close to my old home you know in that other palace/museum and Saint Germain en Laye is nice too.  Needless for me to tell you it is one of my favorite cities in France ,and yes they are many!. My family enjoy it very much, and we remember well the times spent here shopping and eating. I have walked its streets and taste the great places we usually went. It is always with great memories that we have come here thereafter. And yes this is in Yvelines dept 78 of the Île de France region of my belle France. As such, this updated post will be in my black and white series, no pictures. as the shopping was always fast and furious ! I like to tell you about the curiosities of Saint Germain en Laye, part I !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I

The City of Saint Germain en Laye, is very close to Paris, easily reachable by RER A trains (several locations in Paris), and SNCF trains at Grand Centaure station, coming in from Gare Saint Lazare in Paris. (see posts). If coming by car as  I do always is good to drive on the perimeters roads but once close to city center best is to walk and leave your car at a parking garage. The most obvious is by the RER station, two call RER and Chateau parking in two levels. The other is to go underneath the Vieux Marché (see post) or market area on ave de la République, or the parking Pologne at rue de Pologne or the Monoprix store parking. The city is old narrow streets so you are best to be prepare and use to driving in this conditions, if you are, then it will be a breeze, otherwise can be bothersome.

You will back of the castle an archdoor leading to the Pavillon Henri IV restaurant (see post) an enblem showing this is where Louis XIV was born. The parc and gardens were done from  1668 to 1675 by the great gardener of France André Le Nôtre, and it has an expansive view over Paris and the vineyards of Le Pecq (see post) that after doing so from antiquity are now back in form from 2000 onward producing pinot noir base wines! For reference, the Pavillon Henri IV, hotel, resto, bar : https://www.pavillonhenri4.fr/en/

Another memorable spot for lunch was the Brasserie du Théatre,  Place Charles de Gaulle  just by chateau and church; The official Brasserie du Théâtre: http://www.brasseriedutheatre-78100.com/

And I went to the La Fringale, 24, rue Saint Pierre  bar à vin and tapas, great, just from RER A to rue au pain, then ave de Paris turn quickly right on rue Saint Pierre. The local tourist office about it: https://www.seine-saintgermain.fr/fr/fiche/4805607/la-fringale/

To eat, and see the very best for sports go to the Bitter End, 20 rue St Pierre, for some drinks and light food. The official Bitter End: https://www.bitter-end.fr/

I did shop and enjoy the Famille Mary, 14 rue de Pologne, honey, pain d’épice, bio, supplements,soaps all derived from honey, this is the local branch stores all over,The official Famille Mary: https://www.famillemary.fr/saint-germain-en-laye

Also next door , my dear late wife Martine favorite, Damart, 20 rue de pologne, great clothing for men and women (especially) very old traditional name in France, The damart stores : https://magasin.damart.fr/9-damart-saint-germain-en-laye

For bread, pastries and all sort of goodies favorites was Boulangerie Bertrand , 18 rue de Pologne,no web, but it is closed ,here for the memories of always. And for chocolates, macarons, fine pastries and cakes Pâtisserie Grandin, 13 rue au Pain,  The tourist office about it:https://www.seine-saintgermain.fr/en/file/821536/patisserie-grandin/

You can,also, shop in over 850 stores in city center, one of the largest choices in the whole region, even better than Versailles. One of my favorites was the Passage Saint Germain,built at the place of a boys school from 1907, it became a middle school or collége in 1946, then a lycée technique municipal, or technical high school in 1975. Now there are a brasserie and about 20 stores. You can walk in by  10ter rue de la Salle, rue des Coches, or by rue au Pain. The official le passage Saint Germain: https://www.lepassagesaintgermain.fr/

Other trivia sights that the walking will make the gourmand digest better while seeing gorgeous architecture and great history. The story goes that during WWII the city is occupied by nazis troops and finally liberated by Americans, the European commandant is set up here as the United States European Command from 1954 at Camp des Loges . (was the training ground of the football/soccer PSG!). They are building a new complex near the City of Poissy, not far. Also, to visit the Château du Vals right at the end of the grand terrace that overlooks Paris, it house since 1927 the retirees of the Legion d’Honneur of France. And the Chateau de Hennemont  built early 20C by a pharmacist of different architectural styles , it sits right at the entrance to the city on the N13 road. By the Rampe des Grotte you will see fountain dedicated to the dragon,neptune, and whales, the only remains of the new castle that existed there built by Henri IV but left in dispair when Versailles was built.It sits now behind the resto pavillon Henri IV. It was latest the home of the lycée international de Saint-Germain-en-Laye high school choice of my boys but finally went to another private school in Le Chesnay closer to Versailles.

Many beautiful mansions or hôtels particuliers were built and remain wonderful properties to see in town, these are , Hôtel de Bontemps, 9 rue Roger-d-Nézot, built 17C for the room maid of king Louis XIV. Hôtel de Fieubet, 2 rue Voltaire, adviser to king Louis XIV and chancellor of the queen that acquires it in 1670 and resold it in 1693. Hôtel de Guise, 17 rue des Coches,  rebuilt in the 18C it belongs to Henri de Guise, grandson of king Henri I.  Hôtel de Noailles, at rue d’Alsace a wonderful property of the dukes of Noailles governors of Saint Germain until the revolution and built at end of 17C by architect Hardouin Mansart,  a road was created in 1836,crossing the central property of the building the two wings still standing at 10 and 11 rue d’Alsace. composer Mozart stayed here in 1778. Hôtel des Maréchaux de Villeroy 18 rue de la Salle ,property of  Nicolas de Neuville, duke of  Villeroy (1597-1685),minister of State of king Louis XIII, and one of the governors of king Louis  XIV in 1646 , becoming marshal of France the same year.  The property passes to his son François, raise with Louis XIV and also duke of  Villeroy, he was marshal of France, and governor of  Louis XV as well as minister of the council of Regents . Hôtel known as Conti and Hôtel known as de Soubise, Place Charles de Gaulle, built between  1754 -1758. The Hôtel Conti  was purchase by Louis Armand 1er de Bourbon-Conti, Prince of Conti . Property of  Louis-François de Bourbon Conti, prince of Conti that fought under Louis XV in Germany, Flanders and Italy during the war of succession . In 1754 ,the Duchess d’Orléans, daughter of  Louis-Armand  de Bourbon Conti sell the hotel to Georges René Binet, first room maid of dauphin Louis Auguste, future king  Louis XVI. the hotel was renovated between 1754- 1758 as well as the neighboring Hôtel de Soubise . Hôtel de la Feuillade, 24 rue du Vieil Abreuvoir, belongs to François d’Aubusson, duke de la Feuillade, marshal of France in 1675 and  vice-roy of Sicily in 1677. It passes on to his heir and now to the city. Hôtel de la Marquise de Maintenon, 23 rue du Vieil Abreuvoir  a modest home at first built after 1643  and purchase by madame de Maintenon in 1680. She never lived here as she was living with the king at the chateau de Saint Germain ;today there is no public admitted but you can see the outside.  Hôtel du Duc de Montausier, 22 rue du Vieil Abreuvoir built in the 17C and renovated in the 19C it belongs to the Duke of Montausier (1610-1690), governor of the dauphin .It later was occupied by Marshal  Lyautey from 1887 to 1891.  Hôtel de Crequy, 10-12 rue de Paris, renovated and enlarge in the 18C and then in 1979/1980. It has at second and third floors iron balconies of the times of Louis XV. The door is done from the 19C  in wood.

The local Seine Saint Germain tourist office on Saint Germain en Laye:  https://www.seine-saintgermain.fr/les-villes-et-villages/au-coeur-de-lhistoire/

The city of Saint Germain en Laye on its heritage:  https://www.saintgermainenlaye.fr/140/envie-de/visiter-saint-germain-en-laye.htm

The Yvelines dept 78 tourist office on Saint Germain en Laye:  https://www.destination-yvelines.fr/?s=&_search=saint%20germain%20en%20laye&_post_types=touristic_offer

The Île de France regional tourist office on Saint Germain en Laye:  https://www.visitparisregion.com/en/inspiration/itineraries/a-day-out-in-saint-germain-en-laye

There you go folks, a dandy walk to some beautiful sights in sublime Saint Germain en Laye, a royal town of France. Worth a detour or a train ride from Paris. You will be delighted. Again, hope you enjoy the post on the curiosities of Saint Germain en Laye ,part I as I.

And remember , happy travels, good health ,and many cheers to all !!!

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Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

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