The park and historical museum of the Saint-Cloud estate are the emblem of the town. Although the château was razed to the ground in 1892, the spirit of the place is still intact and you can still admire the magnificent park of 460 hectares and its unobstructed view of Paris. The Great Waterfall and its water features are the highlight of the French formal gardens, designed by Le Nôtre and a listed Historic Monument. Other masterpieces also enliven the place, such as the Trocadéro Garden, the Avenue of Statues, the Green Carpet and the Horseshoe Basin. At the Gate of Honour entrance, the Historical Museum of the Estate of Saint-Cloud relates its prestigious history through sculptures, paintings and various objects.
Lovers of historical heritage will also be impressed by the Church of St. Clodoald, a neo-medieval building dating from the Second Empire. In addition to a remarkable pulpit from 1899, which was displayed at the 1900 Paris Exposition, this church in the town centre houses the relics of St. Clodoald, and has 19th-century stained glass windows and beautiful paintings in its choir. The Avelines Museum, the town's art and history museum, is based in an old 1930s villa and showcases the history and heritage of Saint-Cloud through its temporary and permanent collections.
With its twenty or so parks, Saint-Cloud is a pleasant place to be. These include the Piqueur Garden and its educational farm; the Stern Garden designed by Forestier in 1927, a listed Historic Monument; the Tourneroches Garden and its breathtaking view of Paris; the Marie Bonaparte Park... You'll be spoilt for choice! You can also enjoy a walk above the Seine, on the legendary Avre Footbridge, which offers a beautiful view of the capital and the Eiffel Tower.
Take the time to explore the town by strolling around its six main districts, each of which has a different identity: Coteaux/Bords de Seine, Montretout/Coutureau, Pasteur/Magenta, Centre/Village, Val d'Or and Hippodrome/Fouilleuse. In Hippodrome/Fouilleuse, the Saint-Cloud Racecourse, an unmissable place for horse-racing fans, covers 75 hectares at the top of Saint-Cloud hill and hosts the prestigious Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud every year. The town also hosts the famous Rock en Seine festival every year.
