The foodie in Saint Germain en Laye !!!

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 with new found older pictures in my cd rom vault that should be in my blog for you and me ! Therefore, let me tell you on the foodie in Saint Germain en Laye !!! 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! In the line of gastronomy, two recipes are a must here. Classic born at the historical place and now restaurant of the Pavillon Henri IV. These are the pommes soufflées created in 1837,on the occasion of the Queen Marie-Amélie when traveling on the first train line from Paris and Le Pecq, due to a lateness of the train; and the 
Bearnaise sauce created by chef Collinet in 1844. 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/

The Place du Marché-Neuf  is a square in the center of Saint-Germain-en-Laye.  It was built on the site of a new market, replacing the existing one, which was briefly known as the old market before disappearing altogether. With an underground parking garage, the square is now pedestrianized and features a fountain and water sprouts. The square remains the heart of the town and hosts a lively market three times a week. This area, originally located between the Buzot stream and the Saint-Germain-en-Laye forest, was the town cemetery, as the center of Saint-Germain-en-Laye was then centered around the castle. Until 1763, the hospice, located on what is now the Rue de Poissy, had received permission from King Louis XIV to operate a market hall, which served as an open-air market, situated right next to the town cemetery. In 1771, the first building, the grain and flour market, was constructed. The new market square was created in 1776 on the site of the cemetery, which had been relocated due to the town’s expansion and for hygiene reasons. It became the new market square, replacing the old market, then located at the Cadran crossroads, corresponding to the intersection of the present-day Rue au Pain, Rue de Paris, and Rue du Vieux-Marché. At the beginning of the 19C, the houses surrounding the square were built, and in 1820, arcades were added to enhance the ensemble. In 1911, the post and telecommunications building was constructed on the site of the grain and flour market. Nos. 2, 4, and 6: buildings and arcades ; the houses form a cohesive group built at the beginning of the 19C. These famous arcaded houses were not built until 1820, more than 45 years after the cemetery was relocated. As for the market hall, it was demolished in 1911 and replaced by the current post office building. One of the most vibrant markets in western Paris is held on Tuesdays and Fridays from 8h30 to 13h and on Sundays to 13h30. indeed superbe !!!

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 foodie in Saint Germain en Laye !!! 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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