Located 20 kilometers from Paris, in the valley of Montmorency, Saint-Leu-la-Forêt is a commune in the Val-d'Oise department in the Ile-de-France region. It takes place about twenty kilometers from Cergy, not far from Soisy-sous-Montmorency, Eaubonne and Franconville.
Originally a woodcutter's clearing, the commune of Saint-Leu-la-Forêt became the seigneury of Montmorency in the 14th century, then of the Condé family until the French Revolution in the 18th century. It was the home of Louis Bonaparte, the brother of Napoleon I, who bought the castle at the beginning of the 19th century. The town developed at the end of the 19th century with the arrival of the railway, the Parisian agglomeration.
Full of charm, the town of Saint-Leu-la-Forêt still attracts visitors today for its natural setting and architectural heritage, as well as for its proximity to the City of Light.
Built in the middle of the 19th century by order of the future Napoleon III, the Saint-Leu-Saint-Gilles church takes place on the remains of a 17th-century building. In the crypt, under the choir, rest several members of the Bonaparte family in stone sarcophagi. Inside, one can also admire a statue of the Madonna and Child in Carrara marble, classified as a Historic Monument, a monument in white marble to the glory of Louis Bonaparte, also classified as a beautiful fresco dedicated to St. Napoleon, St. Louis, and St. Charles. Offered by Napoleon III, the organs are classified as Historic Monuments.
Founded in the first half of the fourteenth century, the Sainte-Geneviève chapel was once dedicated to Saint Jean des Forges. Today it has been completely restored and still has a very beautiful 18th century wooden frame.
As you walk through the center of Saint-Leu-la-Forêt, you will be able to admire ancient monuments such as the consular house, the 18th century classical building, the Chateau de la Chaumette, a late 19th century neoclassical building or the beautiful train station built in the 1920s in a style inspired by Norman, half-timbered and brick, now disappeared under the plaster.
On the Place de la Forge, the Fountain of the Harvester stands proudly since the end of the 19th century. It symbolizes agricultural work, once the primary source of employment for the inhabitants of the village.
Built in the middle of the 19th century, the Croix du Prince de Condé pays tribute to Louis VI Henri de Bourbon-Conde, who was found hanged in his castle of Saint-Leu following the execution of his only son by order of Napoleon Bonaparte. The monument stands at the exact spot where the body of the prince was found.
Do not miss either the laundrette of the Eauriette and the fountain of Boissy, both of the nineteenth century. The highly sulphated water of the fountain is renowned for its therapeutic properties against kidney diseases.
Several hiking trails allow to appreciate the flora of Saint-Leu-la-Forêt. They cross the nearby forest, squares or communal gardens.
The market is held on Wednesdays and Saturdays morning. The city organizes a Christmas market at the end of the year.
At the end of June, Festiv'été offers games and entertainment for the whole family, as well as evening concerts.
Labeled Imperial City, Saint-Leu-la-Forêt organizes in October re-enactments on the Empire period, including a grand ball, a bivouac, demonstrations of gunshots, or old stalls.
In mid-October, the chestnut festival offers entertainment around this much appreciated fruit, as well as a great gathering friendly.
