Country France Area 43,015 | Region Ile-de-France Mayor Emmanuel Lamy | |
Points of interest Chateau de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, National Archaeological Museum, Musee departemental Maurice Denis "The Priory", Forest of Saint-Germain-en-Laye | ||
Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Ile-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris, 19.1 km (11.9 mi) from the centre of Paris.
Contents
- Map of Saint Germain en Laye
- Vitalic la mort sur le dancefloor en tournage a saintgermainenlaye
- History
- Economy
- References
Map of Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Inhabitants are called Saint-Germanois. With its elegant tree-lined streets it is one of the more affluent suburbs of Paris, combining both high-end leisure spots and exclusive residential neighborhoods (see the Golden Triangle of the Yvelines).
Vitalic la mort sur le dancefloor en tournage a saintgermainenlaye
Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a sub-prefecture of the department. Because it includes the National Forest of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, it covers approximately 48 km2 (19 sq mi), making it the largest commune in the Yvelines. It occupies a large loop of the Seine. Saint-Germain-en-Laye lies at one of the western termini of Line A of the RER.
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.
In 1688, James II, King of England, exiled himself to the city due to religious conflicts in his own country. He spent the remainder of his days there, and died on 16 September 1701.
Prior to the French Revolution in 1789, it had been a royal town and the Chateau de Saint-Germain the residence of numerous French monarchs.
The old chateau was constructed in 1348 by King Charles V on the foundations of an old castle (chateau-fort) dating from 1238 in the time of Saint Louis. Francis I was responsible for its subsequent restoration. In 1862, Napoleon III set up the Musee des Antiquites Nationales in the erstwhile royal chateau. This museum has exhibits ranging from Paleolithic to Celtic times. The "Dame de Brassempouy" sculpted on a mammoths ivory tusk around 23,000 years ago is the most famous exhibit in the museum.
Kings Henry IV and Louis XIII left their mark on the town.
Louis XIV was born in the chateau (the citys 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 chateau to James VII & II of Scotland and England after his exile from Britain after the Glorious Revolution in 1688. James lived in the Chateau for 13 years, and his daughter Louisa Maria Stuart was born in exile here in 1692. James II is buried in the Church of Saint-Germain.
Saint-Germain-en-Laye is famous for its 2.4-kilometre (1.5 mi) long stone terrace built by Andre Le Notre from 1669 to 1673. The terrace provides a view over the valley of the Seine and, in the distance, Paris.
The Treaty of Saint-Germain was signed in 1919 and was applied on July 16, 1920. The treaty officially registered the breakup of the Habsburg empire, which recognized the independence of Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, and the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (Yugoslavia).
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 headquarters of the German Army .
Economy
Capcom Entertainment France, a Capcom subsidiary, has its head office in Saint-Germaine-en-Laye.