St Germain en Laye

St Germain en Laye is a suburb of Paris about 12 miles from the centre of the city. It's one of the wealthiest suburbs where professionals with families move out to, attracted by the large park space, the accessibility, (just 20 minutes to the centre of Paris by train) and its proud position looking over the city. It occupies a large loop of the Seine, so there's lots of river frontage as well.
Prior to the French Revolution it was a Royal town and the residence of a number of French Royal monarchs. The old château was constructed in 1348 by King Charles V on the foundations of an old castle (château-fort) dating from 1238 in the time of Saint Louis. Francis I was responsible for its subsequent restoration. In 1862, Napoleon III set up the Musée des Antiquités Nationales in the estwhile royal château. This museum has exhibits ranging from Paleolithic to Celtic times. The "Dame de Brassempouy" sculpted on a mammoth's ivory tusk around 23,000 years ago is the most famous exhibit in the museum.
Kings Henry IV and Louis XIII left their mark on the town.
Louis XIV was born in the château (the city's coat of arms consequently shows a cradle and the date of his birth), and established Saint-Germain-en-Laye as his principal residence from 1661 to 1681. Louis XIV turned over the château to James II after his exile from Britain after the Glorious Revolution in 1688. James lived in the Château for 13 years, and his daughter Louisa Maria Stuart was born in exile here in 1692. James II is buried in the Church of Saint-Germain.
Saint-Germain-en-Laye is famous for its 2.4 kilometre long stone terrace built by André Le Nôtre from 1669 to 1673. The terrace provides a view over the valley of the Seine and, in the distance, Paris.
During the French Revolution, the name was changed along with many other places whose names held connotations of religion or royalty. Saint-Germain-en-Laye became Montagne-du-Bon-Air.
In the 19th century, Napoleon I established his cavalry officers training school in the Château-Vieux.
During the occupation from 1940 to 1944, the town was the headquarters of the German Army. Read the full article at http://www.eurodestination.com/Short%20Breaks/France/yvelines-short-breaks.htm

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[johnwood57]

Very good gary,i bet it is expensive to live there.............John

[eurodestination]

@johnwood57 Yes it is a bit John, but nothing as bad as London.

[CDmagz]

So beautiful! How are you?  We hope you are fine! Have a good summer our dear friend. Best wishes from Natasha, Georgina and Ellen x

[eurodestination]

@CDmagz How are you? I'm fine, but very busy with travelling and writing.

[HenryAndersonvideo]

Very picturesque!

[domovodstvoby]

dare gum

dare gum la la goood !!!

[domovodstvoby]

very good song