Visit Saint-Germain-en-Laye: Royal Market Town Near Paris

Next time you're in Paris and want to avoid the typical tourist route, take a day trip to Saint-Germain-en-Laye. The town is only 20 kilometres west of Paris and 15 km from Versailles.

It couldn't be easier to travel from the City, as it takes only 20 minutes on the RER A line from Paris direct to the terminus of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, opposite the château.

As a local (we live only five minutes away!) and as voluntary Ambassadrice for this Royal market town, I'm proud to say it's worth a visit!

What is Saint-Germain-en-Laye Famous for?

Not to be confused with the quarter of Saint Germain-des-Prés in Paris, the royal town of Saint-Germain-en-Laye is just west of Paris. The town is perched on the edge of a forest of 3500 hectares with a population of about 44,000 (2021).

Before the château was home to the Kings of France until Louis XIV put Versailles on the map, and where the Treaty of Saint Germain was signed (1919). Today it's home to the famous Paris Saint Germain football (soccer) team but that's not all.
The royal town has a vineyard, a prestigious international lycée (school), museums, cheese, chocolate and pastry specialities and one of the best markets in France.

Saint-Germain-en-Laye was also the birthplace of King Louis XIV, Claude Debussy, soufflé potatoes and the Sauce Béarnaise (more details below).

Scotland and France Alliance

The town even has its own tartan (see it in my recipe for Cullen Skink smoked haddock soup), such is the Franco-Scottish Auld Alliance with the Scots - and Saint-Germain-en-Laye is twinned with the town of Ayr in Scotland.
September 2019 was the first ever Scottish festival in the town, complete with dancers and pipers from Scotland. Imagine a pipe band passing under Madame La Marquise de Maintenon's residence above, Louis XIV's 2nd wife.

With my Scottish roots, I'm always patriotic passing the newly renovated church, where King James VII of Scotland (II of England) lies. Across the road from his tomb (also renovated by the UK after Queen Victoria's visit) is the château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, where the Stuart family lived while in exile.

Saint-Germain's Famous Market

This French Royal Burgh has been a market town since King François I. He decided as of 1526 that there should be two market days.

Today there are three market days: on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays (mornings) (check out my Instagram feed, as you'll see me regularly shop here.)
We love this market so much, that I've created a new market produce page to share the experience.

Jardin des Arts - St-Germain Tourist Office & Apothecary

The Tourist Office was previously housed on the ground floor of the Claude Debussy Museum, birthplace of the composer in 1826 in rue au Pain. Today it's in the renovated Jardin des Arts building where, on request, free visits are available of the Apothicairerie. This old apothecary dates back to 1649 and belonged to the general hospital and Hôpital de la Charité.

Between the stunning old faïence in blue cobalt, you can spot 600 items - from Epsom salts, cloves, rose and pastels de guimauve (marshmallows). The most intriguing are les yeux d'ecrevisses: luckily they're not shrimps' eyes but tiny pastels of limescale.

Cheese on Bread Street (Rue au Pain)

Rue au Pain is the town's oldest Medieval street, so-called as it supplied the bread to the castle. Today it's still home to a bakery, chocolate shop, pâtisserie and fromagerie. I recommend stopping here at La Ferme de Suzanne's cheese shop. They mature their own speciality cheeses, such as Le Saint-Germain and Le Debussy, both triple cream (70%) cow's milk wonders. Imagine a cheese shop on bread street?

Walking along pedestrian-only cobbled streets, you'll pass boutiques and mansion houses from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Castle of Saint-Germain-en-Laye

Today the castle is home to the National Archeological Museum and has recently completed 6 years of renovations. Certain parts now look so pristine, it looks like something from Disneyland! 

The château dates from Louis IX in 1235, with the oldest part of the castle that's left, the Royal Chapel, inspired the Saint Chapelle in Paris. Look up and spot numerous reminders of François I's 'F' symbol and his invincible salamander; 'N' for the Napoleon III empire; and 'R' symbol of the third Republic.

The chimney-packed castle roof is open to the public for visits too, on demand, from May-September. See my article here all about visits to the Château rooftop, with views to Paris with more details on who lived in the Château.

Birthplace of Louis XIV & Sauce Béarnaise

The Pavillion Henri IV Hotel houses the small red-brick pavilion where Louis XIV was born in 1638. It's all that's left of the new castle (Château Neuf) which was demolished in 1776 at the request of Louis XIV's brother, the Count of Artois.

Rather than restore the castle that had run into disrepair while Louis had moved to the new royal residence at Versailles, the Count told the King he much preferred the castle in Maisons-Laffitte (where the Paris-Brest was invented - and where we lived for 5 years). So the people of Saint-Germain-en-Laye re-cycled the "new" bricks for their mansion houses.

It wasn't just the King that was born here. The hotel is also famous for inventing the Sauce Béarnaise and Pommes de Terre Soufflées (puffed potatoes) after it opened in 1836.

Le Nôtre's Park and Terrace

The Grand Terrace, designed by Louis XIV's favourite gardener, André Le Nôtre, is over 2km long. He worked on this before Vaux-le-Vicomte and Versailles.

For lovers of architecture, there are plenty of explanatory signs in English to learn more about the history and designs of the gardens.

Saint-Germain-en-Laye Vineyards

Replanted in 1999, nearly 2000 Pinot Noir vines grow just under the Terrace to make the Vin des Grottes, although this isn't commercialised. Instead it's traditionally served at the harvest festival in September. Literally, cave wine.

Just look at this perspective below, lined with lime blossom (tilleul) trees. Imagine in Louis XIV's time this long walk wasn't paved or pathed; there was no grass and no railings with a drop of 13 metres!

It was simply sanded so walkers may have felt slightly daunted. The other day on our walk, we saw there had been boars during the night. Much prettier are the ponies in the field below.

From the terrace is this magnificent view of the west of Paris including La Defense. On clear days like this you can spot Sacré Coeur and the Eiffel Tower. Can you see them plus other Parisian landmarks?

It's a favourite spot for weekend walks, which leads to the well-guided paths in the domaine nationale forest, just outside the gates.

Famous Cakes & Chocolate in Saint-Germain

Just to whet your appetite, I have compiled your very own Self-guided chocolate-pastry tour of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. As you can imagine, it deserves its own post.

Plan Your Visit: Paris to Saint-Germain-en-Laye

Don't forget Saint-Germain-en-Laye next time you visit Paris - add this 'mini Paris' to your bucket list! There's not just the Palace of Versailles. This royal town is so easy to get to (RER A to the terminus from Paris).

It's so close you can see Paris and check out its weather from the hill! For more information, tour reservations & visits, contact the lovely team at the tourist office:

Tourist Office
Jardin des Arts, 3 rue Henri IV, 78100 Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Tel: 01-30 87 20 63

This post was first published 5 October 2015 but is now completely updated.
None of this is sponsored - as a local, I'm just proud to share this wonderful town.