Did you know that it was in a historic hotel-restaurant in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, just steps from the castle, that the Sun King was born? In the heart of the Pavillon Henri IV, a storied residence perched above the Seine valley, lies a true preserved treasure: the private chapel and the birth chamber of France's most famous king. Before it became the setting for a gastronomic lunch or a luxury stay, this place hosted grand royal events!
After 23 years of childless marriage between Louis XIII and Anne of Austria, the birth of the future Louis XIV almost bordered on a miracle. It was on September 5, 1638, in what was then the Château-Neuf of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, that the queen gave birth to the heir who would first be nicknamed "Louis-Dieudonné", and was immediately baptized in the Oratory.
The sole surviving portion of the old Château-Neuf, torn down during the Revolution, is the room where the fate of the French monarchy played out, and it can still be visited today — preserved but in need of renovation, with none of a bedroom left. Beneath a stunning colored dome, a few benches have been placed to outfit the space, which is adorned with paintings, medallions and mouldings. Note that this is not a museum with free admission, except during Heritage Days.
To cross the threshold of this enigmatic room, you must be a guest of the establishment: staying overnight, booking a table at the fine-dining restaurant, or simply dropping by for a drink or a coffee at the bar, for tighter budgets. Then simply ask the staff politely to open the doors to this confidential space for a minute of privileged history.
Beyond this royal cradle, the place is a genuine hub of cultural and culinary anecdotes. It is within these walls, which had become a prized hotel-restaurant in the 19th century, that chef Jean-Louis-François Collinet created in 1837 the genuine sauce Béarnaise, named in homage to King Henry IV, whose bust stood in the room.
A few years later, Alexandre Dumas settled there to write two of his masterpieces, The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, while Offenbach was composing the music for La Vie Parisienne.
Location
Henri IV Pavilion
19-21 Rue Thiers
78100 Saint Germain en Laye
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