I used to lived not far from it and came to do market shopping as well as sightseeing on weekends just to see something different, I like to tell you a bit more of royal Saint Germain en Laye, a wonderful town that should be visited more, easy from Paris on the RER A trains, A great historical and architecturally stunning town with an old castle ,beautiful museum ,and nice church. I found me ,again, some pics not in my blog and they should. Therefore, here is my take on the château/museum of Saint Germain en Laye !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
Just 20-25 minutes by RER A from Charles-de-Gaulle-Etoile ,Arc de Triomphe, Paris ! As soon as you arrive, the castle faces you. A former royal residence, it stands out in particular for the elegance of its Renaissance silhouette and for its Saint-Louis Chapel, which is a true masterpiece of the radiant Gothic style. In particular, you can admire its permanent archaeological collections, which are among the richest in the world. From the Paleolithic to the First Middle Ages, some 29,000 objects, vestiges of the oldest techniques and arts, are available to you. The museum also offers themed temporary exhibitions and conference visits to learn more about the archeology and history of the castle. Just behind it, in what it was the old castle Louis XIV was born, now covered by the fame restaurant Le Pavillon Henri IV.(see post)
The name is old possibly from 972 when king of the French Robert I had built a monastery in honor of St Germain ,probably St Germain des Prés. The name of the town can be translated as Saint Germain of the forest in new French. In 1777, King Louis XVI donated the New Castle, in bad condition, to his brother Charles, Count of Artois, the future Charles X. He had it demolished with the intention of rebuilding it. Under the first Empire, the Château-Vieux was repaired to form a cavalry school. It hosts the Special Military School of Cavalry, opened in 1809 and merged, in 1914, with the Special Military School of Saint-Cyr. From 1836 to 1855, the castle was transformed into a military penitentiary. It was extensively restored under Napoleon III . On March 8, 1862, an imperial decree acts the creation in the castle of a Museum of Celtic and Gallo-Roman Antiquities (later renamed Museum of National Antiquities, then recently , and still today the Museum of National Archaeology).
The castle revolves around an inner courtyard in the shape of a trapezoid, taking the primitive route of Charles V Castle. The wings that frame this courtyard traditionally bear the following names: King’s Wing (north wing), Queen’s Wing (east Wing), King’s Children’s wing (southeast wing), Chapel Wing (southwest Wing), and the Feast Hall Wing (West Wing). The ballroom is located in the West Wing. Unfinished at the death of François I, it was inaugurated by his son Henri II at a grand banquet in 1549 to celebrate the baptism of his son. It is more than 500 m2 and has a monumental chimney with a stone motif, which features the salamander; the emblem of François I. Louis XIV transformed it into a comedy room, and the team of formidable instruments. More than one hundred and forty representations of all kinds were given in this room considered the largest of the whole kingdom. Lully and Molière knew their hours of glory here. In 1666, king Louis XIV performed himself in the Ballet des Muses. This room now houses the comparative archaeology room.
The castle museum are well kept with a beautiful Chapel of St. Louis, located in the Gothic castle, is a vestige of the ancient fortress. It was built by Saint Louis in 1238. Louis XIV, although born in the Château Neuf, was baptized there. An inner courtyard, floors of antiquities artifacts from the region very nicely display, and the adjoining park design by Le Notre overlooking Paris. Behind the castle in what is now the restaurant Pavillon Henri IV, a marker displays the fact that king Louis XIV was born there. Of course, the castle now the museum of antiquities or musée national des antiquites it covers in three floors wonders of the old days found in the surrounding areas, and it is considered one of the best in its genre. Behind you see an archdoor leading to the Pavillon Henri IV restaurant (great dining) an enblem showing this is where Louis XIV was born. The parc and gardens were done from 1668 to 1675 by the great gardener Le Nôtre, and it has an expansive view over Paris and the vineyards of Le Pecq that after doing so from antiquity are now back in form from 2000 onward producicng pinot noir base wines.
However, just as wonderful is to walk its domain property and its gardens paths. The national estate and the gardens surrounding the castle welcome you for a stroll on the large terrace, 2.5 km long and 30 meters wide, laid out by André Le Nôtre, gardener to Louis XIV. Overlooking La Défense and the Seine, it is a masterpiece of perspective!
The Château of Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a former residence of the kings of France. The current castle was built under François Ier from 1539. Enlarged several times by his successors, it was a royal residence until 1682, when Louis XIV left it definitively for Versailles. However, the during the French revolution, the castle is seized as national property and sold to the former manager who demolishes it, subdivides the land and sells the materials. Today, only the Henri IV Pavilion (a nice restaurant today see post) , the Garden Pavilion, the Sully Pavilion at nearby Le Pecq,(see post), a terrace and its two ramps at the end of rue Thiers which overlooks the avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny and some vestiges in the cellars of the district ,one at 3 rue des Arcades remained.
The place is awesome, and very near walking distance to the marvelous City center shopping and architecture of Saint Germain en Laye, and Louis XIV was born here !
Some of the stories and personalities of the Castle and the city of Saint Germain en Laye were: King François I married Claude de France (daughter of Anne de Bretagne and queen as well) in the Chapel of the old castle in 1514 , and became its favorite living property. Henri II is also born here, and he became king in 1547! Charles IX established a glass making trade in 1561, and Henri IV exempt the inhabitants of all taxes in 1599 priviledge that lasted until 1789! king Louis XIII spent his youth at the old castle, and it was while hunting from here that he discovered another place to later build his hunting lodge-Versailles. He later died here in 1643, while his son Louis XIV was born here in 1638. As king Louis XIV spent a great deal of his time here from 1661 to 1682 afterward the castle decline as the new other property was been built at Versailles. The king of England Edward II came here in exile from 1689 to his death in 1701 at the old castle, and is buried across the street at the Church of St Germain (see post).
Saint Germain en Laye saw the birth of (year following name) :Henri II, 1518; Marguerite de France, Queen Margot, 1553 ; Jeanne d’Albret, (mother of Henri IV and great figure of the Reformist era) ,1528;Charles IX , 1550 ; Louis de Buade count de Frontenac,( Governor of New France (Canada)),1622; King Louis XIV, 1638 ; Philippe de France, duke of Orléans,1640 ; Philippe de France, duke of Anjou, (oldest son of Louis XIV), 1660; Marie-Louise of England , (daughter of king James II of England exile in the city and buried at the Church of St Germain across from castle), 1692; Claude Debussy ,1862 ; Edouard Bourdet, 1887; Jehan Alain, 1911 ; Christian Fouchet, 1911,(ambassador and previous minister and follower from the first hour of Gen de Gaulle); José Artur, 1927; Michel Pericard (1929-1999), (previous mayor of Saint-Germain- en-Laye (1977-1999),deputy of the Yvelines (1978-1999) , and Vice President of the National Assembly of France (1997-1999); Jean-Edern Hallier, 1936; and Pierre Douglas, 1941…
Saint Germain en Laye saw the passing of figures such as (year of death following name) : Louis XIII,1643 ; James II king of England, 1701; The knight Ramsay 1743 ; François de Beauharnais, (father in law of Joséphine first wife of Napoléon), 1800 ; prince de Polignac, 1847 ; Adolphe Thiers, President of the IIIe Républic, 1877; the Poet Catulle Mendès, 1909 ; Henri Cochet, Tennis champion 6 times winner of the Davis Cup, 1987; Suzanne Chantal, roman writer, 1994. And who have passed by in the city, some of the famous are : Molière, alias Jean-Baptiste Poquelin; Mozart for a day in 1778 ; Benjamin Franklin also in 1778; Alexandre Dumas father and son. The father wrote “Les Trois mousquetaires” and “Le Comte de Monte Cristo” in the city while commander of the national guard in town as well as directs the theater. The son wrote “La Dame aux camélias” in the city. The musician Claude Debussy, and the painter Maurice Denis , that have a museum in the city as well. And of course, many many others too numerous to mention.
The official Château/Museum of National Antiquities: https://musee-archeologienationale.fr/en/collection/archaeological-collections
The Seine Saint Germain en Laye tourist office on the castle/museum: https://www.seine-saintgermain.fr/en/file/706136/discovering-historical-secrets-the-musee-darcheologie-nationale/
The city of Saint Germain en Laye on its history/heritage: https://www.saintgermainenlaye.fr/792/envie-de/visiter-saint-germain-en-laye/histoire-et-patrimoine.htm
There you go folks, do not miss it next time, worth your time there. WonderfulSaint Germain en Laye, many memories especially from the sights just to come to the market for goodies with the family. The royal town is part of the history of my belle France, Again, hope you have enjoy the post on the château/museum of Saint Germain en Laye !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 