If you follow me on Instagram then you already know that I love to share things that you could do in Paris but also outside of the city. My aim is to show you how you can visit France wihout a car.
All you will need is a Paris Public transportation card zones 1-5 or a long distance train ticket for travels further away from Paris.
In this blog pot, I would like to tell you about my day trip from Paris to Saint-Germain-en-Laye, a city with a rich and exciting historic past.
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Discover the Beautiful Charm of Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Discover the beautiful charm of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. On a cold and rainy autumnal day, I decided to venture West of Paris to revisit Saint-Germain-en-Laye. I had been there before many years ago on market day for a short trip and I was longing to return to the city that had stolen my heart the first time I saw it.
Here I was on this Thursday morning rushing to beat the rain that was about to pour down to catch the metro and suburban train from Châtelet in central Paris to get inside the suburban train line A going in the direction of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, which is the last stop on that particular route.
Thirty minutes later ( it can be a bit longer depending of where you are coming from) from Châtelet in central Paris, I was stepping out of the train and ready to go explore this lovely city. I searched for the right exit and as soon as” I saw a sign that says The National Museum Of Archeology”, I followed it until it lead me to the escalator to exit the train station. Seconds later, I was on the street holding my umbrella on my way for some new adventure.
A bit of history about Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Discover the beautiful charm of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Saint-Germain-en-Laye is located 19 km West of Paris in the Yvelines department of the Île-de-France region. It is a former Royal city where you can admire the past rich history and vestiges of the French Monarchy including its château turned into The National Museum Of Archeology under Napoleon III in 1862.
Some of Saint-Germain-en-Laye former notable residents were :
- Louis VI who built the château
- Henry IV
- Louis VII
- Louis IX
- Louis XIII who died there
- Louis XIV who eventually left for good to go to Versailles.
In addition, a number of personalities from the artistic world also stayed there, including musicians:
- Claude Debussy
- Lulli
- Mozart
Although you can visit this former Royal town at any time of the year, I would highly recommend that you visit it in autumn so that you can fully take advantage of the beautiful fall foliage scenary and Seine River that you can admire along the way there by train. Take a look of a quick recap of my day trip there.
With that being said, here’s a list of what you can do on a day trip from Paris to Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
What to do in Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
- The National Archaeology Museum located in the former residence of Kings of France.
- The national park and gardens surrounding the château designed by André Le Nôtre, gardener to Louis XIV that overlooks the La Défense business district and the Seine River.
- The house were King Louis XIV was born
- Espace Paul-et-André Vera, a stunning museum named after two brothers from Saint-Germain-en- Laye, who were pioneers of the Art Déco movement.
- The old town
- The Maurice Denis Museum
- Shopping
- Market day ( Tuesdays and Sundays)
Where to grab a quick bite in Saint-Germain-en-Laye?
In the city center, you will find many restaurants and coffee shops as soon as you exit the train station.
I personnaly recommend the former residence of Louis XIV turned into a 4* hotel for a tea time. I had such a wonderful experience there that I plan on returning with a few of my friends. The menu is decently priced at 55 euros for an entrée, main dish and desert. Tea time will cost you a fraction of the cost of a menu. Take a look at this quick recap of my visit there below.
Where to stay in Saint-Germain-en-Laye
If you want to walk in Louis XIV ‘s footsteps, stay at the beautiful 4* hotel Pavillon Henri IV. It is the house where Louis XIV was born. It was the perfect place for me to find refuge on a cold and rainy day for a tea time.
The Pavillon Henri IV welcomes you in an exceptional setting with a panoramic view overlooking the Seine Valley.
In the meantime, feel free as well to better plan your trip to Paris to check out these blog posts:
- Six common mistakes not to make in Paris
- First time traveler’s guide to Paris top things to do
- Three budget bougie foodies restaurant in Paris
Itinerary
Line RER A going to Saint-Germain-en-Laye. The city is in zone 4 so make sure that your Paris travel pass/card can take you that far. Get off and walk through the rich history of this former city, the residence of French kings.
Conclusion
I hope that my day trip from Paris to Saint-Germain-en-Laye will arouse your interest to discover the beautiful charm of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, the former royal city who was the residence of many kings of France.
Equally important, although you have access to many museums in Paris and outside of the city with the Paris Museum Pass, transportation might not be included in it. Make sure to buy a public transportation card valid for zones 1-4 to visit Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
Hopefully, you come soon for a visit . Do not hesitate to leave me a comment if you need more information. Have a safe travel.
XOXO Robbie
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