Saint-Cloud
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Commune of Saint-Cloud View over the park of Saint-Cloud, Pieter Rudolph Kleyn, c. 1800. |
|
| Location | |
 |
|
| Paris and inner ring départements | |
| Coordinates | |
| Administration | |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | Île-de-France |
| Department | Hauts-de-Seine |
| Arrondissement | Boulogne-Billancourt |
| Canton | Saint-Cloud |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération Cœur de Seine |
| Mayor | Éric Berdoati (2005-2008) |
| Statistics | |
| Land area¹ | 7.56 km² |
| Population² (Jan. 1, 2005 estimate) (March 8, 1999 census) |
29,200 28,157 |
| - Density (2005) | 3,862/km² |
| Miscellaneous | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 92064/ 92210 |
| ¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 mi² or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
| ² Population sans doubles comptes: single count of residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel). | |
 |
|
Saint-Cloud is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located 9.6 kilometres (6 mi) from the center of Paris.
Contents |
[edit] History
The town is named after Clodoald, grandson of Clovis, who is supposed to have sought refuge in the hamlet of Novigentum. Canonized after his death, the village where his tomb was located took the name of Sanctus Clodoaldus.
A park contains the ruins of the Château de Saint-Cloud, built in 1572 and destroyed by fire in 1870, during the Franco-Prussian War. The château was the residence of several French rulers, and served as the main country residence of the cadet Orléans line prior to the French Revolution. The palace was also the site of the coup d'état led by Napoleon Bonaparte that overthrew the French Directory in 1799.
[edit] Main sights
The main landmarks are the park of the demolished Château de Saint-Cloud and the Pavillon de Breteuil. The Hippodrome de Saint-Cloud, a race track for Thoroughbred flat racing, was built by Edmond Blanc in 1901 and is host to a number of important races including the annual Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.
[edit] Transport
Saint-Cloud is served by two stations on the Transilien La Défense and Transilien Paris – Saint-Lazare suburban rail lines: Le Val d'Or and Saint-Cloud.
The town is also served by a number of stops on the T2 Tramway, which runs along the side of the Seine.
[edit] Notable people
Saint-Cloud was the birthplace of:
- Philippe II, Duke of Orléans (1674-1723), Regent of France from 1715 to 1723
- Philippe Égalité (1747-1793), a key figure during the early stages of the French Revolution
- Princess Marie Bonaparte (1882-1962), psychoanalyst, closely linked with Sigmund Freud
- Gilbert Norman (1914-1944), Special Operations Executive member
- Jean-Claude Killy (born 1943), alpine skier and a triple Olympic champion
- Gérard Manset (born 1945), known as Manset, rock songwriter
- Hervé Guibert (1955-1991), writer
- Alexandra Fusai (born 1973), former professional tennis player
[edit] Twin towns
Saint-Cloud is twinned with:
- Frascati, Italy
- Bad Godesberg, Germany
- Kortrijk, Belgium
- Windsor and Maidenhead, United Kingdom
