The Saint Cloud Park

The Saint-Cloud estate passed from hand to hand between the historical figures of France from 1577 to 1892. First, in 1577, it was offered as a gift to Jérôme de Gondi by Catherine de Medicis. The squire of the queen mother then transformed the house into a castle and arranged Italian gardens in the courtyard. King Henry III died in the castle of Saint-Cloud on August 2nd 1589, stabbed by the monk Jacques Clément. In 1655, the estate became the property of Barthélemy Hervart, finances intendant of Louis XIV. Three years later, the Sun King redeemed him to offer it to his brother, the Duke of Orleans, who transformed it into a place of rejoicing. He then enlarges and modernizes the place with the most famous artists and landscapers of France. In 1785, Marie-Antoinette bought the estate and made repairs with her architect Mique. After the Revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte prepared his coup d’état from Saint-Cloud the 18th Brumaire and chose to reside there. On May 18th 1815, Napoleon I was proclaimed emperor in the wing of the so-called Apollo Gallery’s building. Louis XVIII lived in the castle during the Restoration after the fall of Napoleon. The last great event lived by the palace was the coronation of Louis Napoleon Bonaparte as emperor on December 2nd 1852. After the attack of the Prussians, the castle was razed in 1892. Only the Trianon and the pavilion of Valois remain. The first was assigned to the International Bureau of Weights and Measures of 1875 and the second was occupied by the Ecole Normale Superieure from 1882 to 2000.

One of the most beautiful gardens in Europe

The Saint-Cloud Park carries the print of the most famous French landscapers and architects. It obtained the label "Jardin remarquable" in 2005. Under the era of Catherine de Medicis, the castle was decorated with Italian gardens. During the reign of Louis XIV, it was the most seasonal landscaper painter and artisan of the Château de Versailles’s gardens, Le Nôtre, who arranged the garden. Le Pautre and his second Jean Girard build the Cascade and Pierre Mignard erects the Apollo’s gallery. The staircase entrusted to Hardouin-Mansart was moved by Marie Antoinette in 1785. Napoleon Bonaparte entrusted the renovation of the castle to Pierre Fontaine and built the lantern of Demosthenes in which a fire was burned to signal the presence of the emperor. It is also destroyed during the besiege of Paris.

Things to see in Saint-Cloud

The national estate of Saint-Cloud (classified as a historical monument in 1994) is an immense park of 460 hectares which is at the gates of Paris. It is made up of gardens, forests and fountains. It is a very popular place for Francilians and foreign tourists. Walk, imaginary journey through time, relaxation and a great breath of fresh air are at the rendez-vous during a day at the park. The officials organize permanent exhibitions and temporary exhibitions for all, as well as fun performances for children. Two cultural events are held every year in Saint-Cloud: Festival Rock en Seine and Film Festival under the Stars.