Saint-Germain-en-Laye
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Commune of Saint-Germain-en-Laye | ||
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| Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye in the town centre | ||
| Location | ||
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| Coordinates | ||
| Administration | ||
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| Country | France | |
| Region | Île-de-France | |
| Department | Yvelines (sous-préfecture) |
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| Arrondissement | Saint-Germain-en-Laye | |
| Canton | Chief town of 2 cantons | |
| Intercommunality | none as of 2005 | |
| Mayor | Emmanuel Lamy (2001-2008) |
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| Statistics | ||
| Altitude | 22 m–107 m (avg. 78 m) |
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| Land area¹ | 48.27 km² | |
| Population² (Jan. 1, 2005 estimate) (March 8, 1999 census) |
41,100 38,423 |
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| - Density (2005) | 851/km² | |
| Miscellaneous | ||
| INSEE/Postal code | 78551/ 78100 | |
| 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). | ||
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- For treaties with this name see Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (disambiguation)
Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris in France. It is located 19.1 km (11.9 miles) from the center of Paris. Inhabitants are called Saint-Germanois.
It is a sous-préfecture of the Yvelines département, being the seat of the Arrondissement of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Because it includes the National Forest of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, it covers approximately 48 km², making it the largest commune in Yvelines. It occupies a large loop of the Seine. Saint-Germain-en-Laye lies at one of western terminus of the line A of the RER.
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[edit] 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.
Prior to the French Revolution in 1789, it had been a royal town and the Château de Saint-Germain the residence of numerous French monarchs. The old château was constructed in 1348 by King Charles V on the foundations of an old castle (château-fort) dating from 1238 in the time of Saint Louis. François I was responsible for its subsequent restoration. In 1862, Napoleon III set up the Musée des Antiquités Nationales in the estwhile royal château. This museum has exhibits ranging from Paleolithic to Celtic times. The "Dame de Brassempouy" sculpted on a mammoth's ivory tusk around 23,000 years ago is the most famous exhibit in the museum.
Kings Henri IV and Louis XIII left their mark on the town.
Louis XIV was born in the château (the city's 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 château to King James II after his exile from Britain after the Glorious Revolution in 1688. King James lived in the Château for 13 years, and his daughter Marie-Louise Stuart was born in exile here in 1692. King James Stuart is buried in the Church of Saint-Germain.
Saint-Germain-en-Laye is famous for its 2.4 kilometre long stone terrace built by André Le Nôtre from 1669 to 1673. The terrace provides a view over the valley of the Seine and, in the distance, Paris.
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 Château-Vieux.
During the occupation from 1940 to 1944, the town was the German Army Headquarters.
[edit] Transport
Saint-Germain-en-Laye is served by Saint-Germain-en-Laye station on Paris RER line A.
It is also served by two stations on the Transilien Paris – Saint-Lazare suburban rail line: Saint-Germain – Bel-Air – Fourqueux and Saint-Germain – Grande Ceinture.
Finally, Saint-Germain-en-Laye is also served by Achères – Grand Cormier station on Paris RER line A and on the Transilien Paris – Saint-Lazare suburban rail line. This station is located in the middle of the Forest of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, far away from the urbanized part of the commune.
[edit] Miscellaneous
[edit] Births
Saint-Germain-en-Laye was the birthplace of:
- Henri II (1519-1559), King of France
- Charles IX (1550-1574), King of France
- Louis de Buade de Frontenac (1622-1698), French courtier and Governor of New France
- Louis XIV (1638-1715), King of France
- Claude Debussy (1862-1918), composer of European classical music
- Maurice Denis (1870-1943), painter and writer and a member of the Symbolist and Les Nabis movements
- Albert Dupontel (born 1964), actor
- Amélie Mauresmo (born 1979), tennis player
[edit] Twin towns
Saint-Germain-en-Laye is twinned with:
- Aschaffenburg, Germany - since 1975
- Temara, Morocco - since 1982
- Ayr, Scotland, United Kingdom - since 1984
- Winchester, Massachusetts, United States of America - since 1990
- Konstancin-Jeziorna, Poland - since 1992
[edit] External links
- Saint-Germain-en-Laye official website
- Saint-Germain-en-Laye personnal website of history, a lot of pictures, not official (in French)
