A large protected estate
A witness to the art of gardens for three centuries
The National Estate of Saint-Germain-en-Laye is located 20 minutes from Paris and offers 40 hectares of preserved spaces bordering a gigantic forest of 3500 hectares.
Adjacent to the former royal forest, the National Estate of Saint-Germain-en-Laye offers a journey through the history of gardens. Moreover, this exceptional heritage area is managed in an ecological manner.
The Domaine National is inseparable from the château, which has become the National Archaeology Museum, and is classified as a "remarkable garden". This popular walking area allows visitors to admire the French gardens designed by André Le Nôtre for Louis XIV or to stroll in the English garden created in the 19th century and home to several rare trees. The jewel in the crown is André Le Nôtre's Great Terrace, which offers a superb panorama of western Paris.
The park is classified as a historical monument since 1964.
The public is welcome all year round and the numerous events that take place there tend to make them aware of this heritage and natural legacy.
The domain seen from the sky by Jérémie Lippmann
Discover the history of gardens
The gardens of André Le Nôtre
In the early 1660s, the gardens of the royal residence of Saint-Germain-en-laye were in poor condition due to lack of maintenance. Louis XIV asked André Le Nôtre to restore them to their former glory. As always, the king's gardener worked wonders.
The English garden
The arrival of the railroad in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, in the 1840s, was at the origin of the creation of the English garden. This romantic haven heralded the emergence of urban gardens in the 19th century.
The Great Terrace
The Great Terrace designed by André Le Nôtre in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, for Louis XIV, is one of his most beautiful creations. Today, it still offers a superb view of the Seine valley and the west of Paris.
The garden today
Adjacent to the former royal forest, the national estate of Saint-Germain-en-Laye offers a journey through the history of gardens. Moreover, this exceptional heritage area is managed in an ecological manner.
Practical information
Opening hours :
. October : 8am - 6.30pm
. November - February : 8am - 5pm
. March - April : 8am - 7:30pm
. May - August: 8am - 8:30pm
. September : 8am - 7:30pm
Tips for visiting
Due to the sanitary situation, we ask you to respect the barrier measures.
The Domaine National is a state-owned domain reserved for walking, recreation and public enjoyment.
- Bicycle traffic is tolerated at a reduced speed without disturbing the pedestrian public, to access the large terrace where traffic is on the central path.
- Dogs on a leash are tolerated. Their owners must ensure that no damage is done and pick up after their pet.
- Access to the lawns is regulated.
- Picnics on tablec loths are tolerated (without additional equipment) on the lawns of the lawns, the meadow and the half-moon in the respect of the public and the environment : many garbage cans are available to the public. The Domaine national may prohibit a picnic to any person who does not respect these conditions or for service reasons.
The Domaine's surveillance officers may, if they deem it necessary, remind you of these instructions and, in the event of non-compliance, ask you to leave the park expressly.
The "remarkable garden" label testifies to the quality of certain gardens and the efforts made for their presentation and reception of the public. It can be awarded to gardens that are protected or not as historical monuments.