St Germain en Laye

One of our favourite day trips is to the town of St Germain en Laye which is only 19 kilometers from the centre of Paris and is easily reached by the RER (Réseau Express Régional, "Regional Express Network").  This is really a suburban version of the Metro which extends further than that iconic underground system.

First view of St Germain en Laye

St Germain en Laye is one of the wealthiest and classiest towns which is still close enough to Paris to be considered a suburb.  It has beautiful tree lined streets and high class shops.  It also has the classiest open air market we have visited. Add to this the magnificent Chateau, right in  the centre of town, which greets you when you come up from the train. 

The Chateau

The weather was kind to us and after an extended walk through the market and the town, we had lunch on the terrace of a very pleasant bistro with a wonderful view of the Chateau.

Pictures from the Market

St Germain en Laye lies in a large loop of the Seine and is also the site of a great national forest. As well it 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.

Alfred Sisley, The Terrace at Saint-Germain(1875)

Among the many famous French men and women born in St Germain en Laye, perhaps the best known is Claude Debussy.

Statue of Claude Debussy