Did you know? The Domaine National de Saint-Cloud, which belonged to Philippe d'Orléans, the brother of Louis XIV, lost its château during the Franco-Prussian war of 1870. Fortunately, the 460-hectare site has been preserved as a fine example of classical garden design, with its terraces, perspectives, green carpets, bosquets, green rooms, fountains and basins.
The bas-parc stretches along the Seine, below the château's terrace, from the Pont de Saint-Cloud to the Pont de Sèvres. Here you can admire the grand cascade, the upper section of which is almost 90 meters long, a skilful 17th-century composition by Antoine Le Pautre, later enlarged by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, and the neighbouring grand jet, over 30 meters high. They are precious testimonies to the traditional techniques used by fountain-makers.
The Domaine de Saint Cloud, a huge park with many fountains near Paris
The Domaine de Saint-Cloud is the magnificent park of the now-defunct Château de Saint-Cloud. Even today, this magical place remains synonymous with festivities in the daily lives of local residents and Paris lovers alike. This historic 460-hectare park, classified as a Remarkable Garden, offers a variety of events throughout the year. [Read more]
The grand-parc was partly cut through by the railway line under Louis-Philippe, then by the freeway in the late 1930s. Most of the park has retained the layout of the avenues and wooded squares designedby Le Nôtre in the 17th century. To the west, the wooded areas of La Brosse and the Plaine des Quatre Cèdres have a wilder, more rural feel. North of the freeway, in the Parc de Villeneuve, attached to the estate in 1852, the pond, in its natural green setting, contrasts with the well-tended garden surrounding the Escadrille La Fayette memorial .
Since 1823, the Trocadéro garden has occupied the former Montretout hill. A private garden designed for the entertainment and education of Charles X's grandchildren, it was conceived as a veritable"living herbarium". The Rendez-vous aux Jardins is a golden opportunity to discover it from top to bottom, on the first weekend in June!
The Centre des monuments nationaux, as part of France–Brazil Year, presents an exceptional exhibition of Christian Lapie’s works at the Domaine national de Saint-Cloud, running from September 12, 2025 to September 30, 2026. The installation spotlights 15 pieces representative of his practice, including one specifically created for the occasion, offering visitors a unique immersion into his creative universe.
Laurent Pernot's installation Je me souviens is on display in the Horseshoe Basin.
As part of the Ministry of Culture's artistic creation support program, Mondes nouveaux, the Centre des monuments nationaux presents Laurent Pernot's Je me souviens in the Horseshoe Basin of the Domaine national de Saint-Cloud.
A project conceived for the site, Je me souviens is a sculpture of letters carved in natural Haims stone, a material whose temporal cadence mirrors that of the park's surrounding nature and the estate's former château. Here, Pernot, through the use of words, offers a thought experiment on our relationship to time and memory. The work invites multiple readings: it can evoke the sinking into oblivion of the past of the former princely residence, or prefigure what humanity may become in the future.
In 1823, Louis XVIII decided to create, on Montretout Hill, a private garden for the “Children of France.” Renamed the Trocadéro Garden, it was conceived as a place for strolling and learning.
During a visit to this garden, Damien Bouvet, deputy to the head gardener, will guide you to the estate’s finest viewpoints from its elevated terraces.
Micro-visits Saturday and Sunday
Micro-visits offer a gradual introduction to the historic museum through its works.
Saturday and Sunday from 2:30 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. Duration: 20 minutes
Le Nôtre and the Saint-Cloud estate
Self-guided tour of the gardens to discover the work and legacy of André Le Nôtre at Saint-Cloud.
Saint-Cloud: Imperial residence
Self-guided tour of the gardens tracing the major events of the Napoleonic era, beginning with the coup of 18 Brumaire and ending with the fall of the Second Empire during the Franco-Prussian War.
Historic Museum of the Saint-Cloud Estate
Housed in the former Stables Building, where Richard Mique, Marie-Antoinette's architect, had his apartments, the museum recreates the history of the Saint-Cloud estate, its gardens, and its vanished château through furniture, portraits, a scale model, and a gallery of engravings and photographs.
Gardens of Saint-Cloud: a historical tour
The history of Saint-Cloud's gardens from the late 16th century to the 1930s.
Young-person discovery path
A playful route through the historic museum and gardens with a game booklet and puzzles to solve for children aged 7 to 11.
(Bring a pencil)
As part of the school project “My Garden of the Future,” spearheaded by author-illustrator Antoon Krings, in collaboration with Gallimard Giboulée, the Hauts-de-Seine Departmental Directorate of National Education (DSDEN92), and the Domaine national de Saint-Cloud, several classes from Hauts-de-Seine worked on creating and building scientific and visual arts pieces. The resulting works will be displayed in the gardens and at the Domaine national de Saint-Cloud’s historic museum (during the museum’s opening hours, 2:30–6:00 p.m.).
Having admired the estate from the heights of our gardens, come create your own pop-up card from the estate’s point of view.
As you stroll through the park’s avenues, you’ll discover numerous ponds, cascades and fountains brought to life by water features that preserve the craftsmanship of 17th‑century Florentine fountain-makers—the very tradition André Le Nôtre drew on when shaping the estate and its grounds.
Heads up: the Grand Cascade is undergoing restoration and will therefore not be in operation.
Note: the operation of the basins and jets may be canceled depending on the state of the water resources.
Water features turn the garden into a temporary theatre stage. On a stroll along the water, discover the behind-the-scenes work, the clever use of topography, and the techniques fountainers use to choreograph the spouting waters. (Subject to availability).
Meet in front of the Pavilion of the 24 Jets, Allée de la Carrière, 92210 Saint-Cloud
We invite you to explore the museum’s collections through how gardens are depicted in the works on display at the Estate’s Historical Museum.
Great discoveries at the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud!
Dates and Opening Time
From June 6, 2026 to June 7, 2026
Location
Domaine national de Saint-Cloud
1 Avenue de la Grille d'Honneur
92210 Saint Cloud
Access
Metro: Line 10 terminus Boulogne-Pont de St-Cloud, By streetcar: T2 [Pont de Bezons-Porte de Versailles], stop Parc de St-Cloud By bus: Lines 52, 72, 126, 175, 460, 467, stop Parc de St-Cloud Line 160 terminus Pont de St-Cloud-Albert Kahn Line 260 stop Rhin et Danube-Musée Albert Kahn
Prices
Free
The Domaine de Saint Cloud, a huge park with many fountains near Paris
