"It's astonishing how little-known Saint-Germain-en-Laye is outside of France. So close to the world-renowned Versailles, arguably its rival, this suburban town enjoyed fame and fortune for centuries, and may have gained further recognition and appreciation were it not for the fate that saw it abandoned by Louis XIV, the last king born there. A little bit of history Like many of the most marvellous chateaux in France, it all began"
"Like many of the most marvellous chateaux in France, it all began with a love of hunting, when in 1122, Louis VI, AKA Louis the Fat (he was reputedly so large he couldn't mount a horse in his middle age) had a fortified castle built in this forested part of France just 20km west of Paris - the seat of royal power."
Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a suburb west of Paris with a long royal history, home to 29 French kings and emperors and the birthplace of Louis XIV. The town originated around a fortified castle built in 1122 by Louis VI as a hunting lodge, surrounded by a village, monastery and vineyards along the Seine. Over centuries the castle was burned, rebuilt, renovated and expanded, and a second residence, the Château Neuf, was added beside the Château Vieux. Hunting lodges, aristocratic mansions and a thriving town developed, later overshadowed by Versailles.
Read at The Good Life France
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