This vast estate of 460 hectares owes its reputation to its royal château - built at the end of the 16th century and no longer standing - and its majestic park. The whole estate was transformed by Philip of Orléans, brother of Louis XIV, then by Marie-Antoinette. Napoleon Bonaparte and Napoleon III were also among the illustrious owners of this summer residence of sovereigns. Renowned architects, such as Hardouin-Mansart and Le Pautre, as well as the famous gardener André Le Nôtre, worked on landscaping and embellishing the property. The château was razed to the ground in 1892 after burning down in 1870.
Of the original estate, a superb, hilly park remains. Culminating at 160 metres in altitude, it's sure to charm lovers of romantic outdoor spaces. It has retained its former glory and offers the visitor many surprises, with its gardens adorned with water features tumbling down the sloping terraces, as well as the fountains, water chandeliers, basins and sculptures that adorn the site.
Near the Seine, the charming tree-lined avenues of the lower garden are an inviting place for a stroll, and the bucolic paths lead to the Grand Jet fountain, reaching an impressive height of 40 metres. The Estate of Saint-Cloud also offers exceptional views of Paris and the surrounding area from the Orangery terrace, where lavish celebrations used to take place, and from the Lantern.
The Park of the Estate of Saint-Cloud has stayed true to its identity as a place of merriment, and has hosted the Rock-en-Seine festival, one of the biggest rock music events in Europe, in the last weekend of August every year since 2003. A little bonus: an enchanting light and music trail of two kilometres, Lumières en Seine, makes the nights sparkle at the end of the year.
