Post by French Mystique Tours on Feb 14, 2013 17:15:34 GMT 1
Saint-Germain-en-Laye is reachable by the RER line A and I live southeast of Paris on the RER A line so I took my bike on the RER and headed for Saint Germain en Laye, the beginning of my day long bike trip. Upon exiting the RER station in Saint Germain en Laye here are some photos of what greets the eye.
The first photo is of the Chateau de Saint Germain en Laye. With origins going back to Louis VI in 1124, the chateau as we see it today is largely the product of Francis I with construction commencing in 1539 on the site of the old chateau. Many notable historic events have taken place here but are too innumerable to mention. Let's just focus on Louis XIV. He was born in a building adjacent to the chateau and spent many of his childhood years in residence at the palace. This is where he sought refuge 3 times during the civil revolt in Paris known as The Frond. He more or less left the chateau for good with his removal to Versailles in 1682. Today, the chateau is known for housing the Musee d'Archeologie National (Museum of National Archaeology). Its focus is on prehistory detailing the human presence in France from 600,000 years ago through the Roman era. If you are a lover of prehistory (and even if you are not) I highly recommend a visit to the museum. I love it. Some of the craftsmanship from the objects of the Bronze Age will leave you in awe. Its most famous exhibit is the tiny sculpture in mammoth ivory of La Dame de Brassempouy, one of the earliest known representations of the human figure and estimated to be 25,000 years old.
The 2 photos above are neolithic tombs (called dolmens) which were removed from another site and reconstructed in the ditches in front of the chateau. Below is a photo of the chateau from another angle.
Being a royal town, Saint Germain was the residence of many nobles, wealthy merchants and other royal suck-ups and this legacy is evident in its architectural heritage. Today, Saint Germain is a posh suburb full of chic shops and boutiques. It is a visually beautiful place and quite lively and an enjoyable place to stroll around. Plenty of restaurants and cafes to relax in and the gardens and forest adjacent to the chateau afford one the opportunity to walk off the caloric intake of your repast. Head to the terrace behind the chateau for panoramic views over the Seine and surrounding areas with The Eiffel Tower on the horizon. Let's look at some photos from around town.
So that's all for Saint-Germain-en-Laye and I hope you enjoyed your visit.
The first photo is of the Chateau de Saint Germain en Laye. With origins going back to Louis VI in 1124, the chateau as we see it today is largely the product of Francis I with construction commencing in 1539 on the site of the old chateau. Many notable historic events have taken place here but are too innumerable to mention. Let's just focus on Louis XIV. He was born in a building adjacent to the chateau and spent many of his childhood years in residence at the palace. This is where he sought refuge 3 times during the civil revolt in Paris known as The Frond. He more or less left the chateau for good with his removal to Versailles in 1682. Today, the chateau is known for housing the Musee d'Archeologie National (Museum of National Archaeology). Its focus is on prehistory detailing the human presence in France from 600,000 years ago through the Roman era. If you are a lover of prehistory (and even if you are not) I highly recommend a visit to the museum. I love it. Some of the craftsmanship from the objects of the Bronze Age will leave you in awe. Its most famous exhibit is the tiny sculpture in mammoth ivory of La Dame de Brassempouy, one of the earliest known representations of the human figure and estimated to be 25,000 years old.
The 2 photos above are neolithic tombs (called dolmens) which were removed from another site and reconstructed in the ditches in front of the chateau. Below is a photo of the chateau from another angle.
Being a royal town, Saint Germain was the residence of many nobles, wealthy merchants and other royal suck-ups and this legacy is evident in its architectural heritage. Today, Saint Germain is a posh suburb full of chic shops and boutiques. It is a visually beautiful place and quite lively and an enjoyable place to stroll around. Plenty of restaurants and cafes to relax in and the gardens and forest adjacent to the chateau afford one the opportunity to walk off the caloric intake of your repast. Head to the terrace behind the chateau for panoramic views over the Seine and surrounding areas with The Eiffel Tower on the horizon. Let's look at some photos from around town.
So that's all for Saint-Germain-en-Laye and I hope you enjoyed your visit.