Saint-Germain-en-Laye

Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located 19.1 km. (11.9 miles) from the center of Paris. Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a sous-préfecture of the Yvelines département, being the seat of the Arrondissement of Saint-Germain-en-Laye.

Inhabitants are called Saint-Germanois.

History

Saint-Germain-en-Laye was founded in 1020 when King Robert the Pious (ruled 996-1031) founded a convent on the site of the present Church of Saint-Germain. Prior to the French Revolution in 1789, it had been a royal town and the residence of numerous French monarchs.

The old chateau was constructed in 1348 by King Charles V on the foundations of an old castle dating from the time of Saint Louis in 1238. François I was responsible for its subsequent restoration. In 18621867, Napoleon III set up the Musée des Antiquités Nationales in the old castle. 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 Henri IV and Louis XIII left their mark on the town.

Louis XIV was born in the city (its 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 King James II after his exile from Britain. King James lived in the Chateau for 13 years and his daughter Marie-Louise Stuart was born in exile here in 1692. King James Stuart is buried in the Church of Saint-Germain.

Saint Germain-en-Laye is famous for its 2.4 kilometer 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 Chateau-Vieux. During the occupation from 1940 to 1944, the town was the German Army Headquarters.

Transportation

Saint-Germain-en-Laye is served by Saint-Germain-en-Laye station on Paris RER line A.

It is also served by two stations on the Transilien Paris – Saint-Lazare suburban rail line: Saint-Germain – Bel-Air – Fourqueux and Saint-Germain – Grande Ceinture.

Finally, Saint-Germain-en-Laye is also served by Achères – Grand Cormier station on Paris RER line A and on the Transilien Paris – Saint-Lazare suburban rail line. This station is located in the middle of the Forest of Saint-Germain, far away from the urbanized part of the commune.

Miscellaneous

Births

Saint-Germain-en-Laye was the birthplace of:

Henri II (1519-1559), King of France
Charles IX (1550-1574), King of France
Louis de Buade de Frontenac (1622-1698), French courtier and Governor of New France
Louis XIV (1638-1715), King of France
Claude Debussy (1862-1918), composer of European classical music
Maurice Denis (1870-1943), painter and writer and a member of the Symbolist and Les Nabis movements
Albert Dupontel (born 1964), actor
Amélie Mauresmo (born 1979), tennis player

Twin towns

Saint-Germain-en-Laye is twinned with:

Aschaffenburg, Germany - since 1975
Temara, Morocco - since 1982
Ayr, Scotland, United Kingdom - since 1984
Winchester, Massachusetts, United States of America - since 1990
Konstancin-Jeziorna, Poland - since 1992

External links