Heritage Days 2023 at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye - Musée d'Archéologie Nationale (78)

A historic monument par excellence, the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye has a fascinating history, which we invite you to discover during the Journées du Patrimoine, the 39th edition of which takes place on Saturday and Sunday, September 16 and 17, 2023.

Built in the 12th century by King Louis VI le Gros, the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye began life as a hilltop fortress. Later, King François I transformed Saint-Germain into a Renaissance-style fortress, making it the principal residence of the kings of France. It was at Saint-Germain that kings Henri II, Henri IV and Louis XIV were born. Although the layout designed by François I remained, Louis XIV asked André Le Nôtre to redesign the gardens.

This is what the King's gardener did in 1663, with large parterres in front of the château, perspectives towards infinity, and above all a panoramic view over the Seine valley: the 2.4-kilometre-long Grande Terrasse!

After Louis XIV deserted the"Château Neuf" for Versailles in 1682, Napoleon I turned the site into a cavalry school, before Napoleon III decreed in 1862 that the Château de Saint-Germain would house a "Museum of Celtic and Gallo-Roman Antiquities": since then, it has changed its name to Musée d'Archéologie nationale and continues to acquire numerous objects - three million of which 29,000 are on display - from the Paleolithic to the early Middle Ages.

• To be read
• Tips for the week of April 29 - May 5, 2024 in Paris: free or inexpensive outings
• What to do in Paris and the Ile-de-France region in April 2024? Our good plans and ideas to discover
• In less than 100 days, Paris will unite the world! A historic chapter, to be written together

Discover this remarkable monument and its collections during the Journées du Patrimoine, with a range of activities suitable for the whole family.

The 2023 Heritage Days program at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye in the Yvelines:

Aucun événement annoncé à ce jour, le programme est mis à jour en fonction des annonces officielles.

You won't be disappointed! But don't forget to reserve your place in advance to take part in the activities. And if the weather's fine, we'd even recommend a picnic in the gardens- a moment of timeless relaxation guaranteed!