Saint-Germain-en-Laye castle was a favorite residence for numerous French Kings and Louis the XIII was partially raised here and his son, King Louis XIV was born there. The historical old town was built around the Renaissance Castle from which terraces you will overlook the Seine riverbanks.

The Royal castle now hosts the Museum of National Antiquities displaying a unique collection of prehistoric engraved bone and stone objects. The neighboring pedestrian shopping district is lined up with 17th and 18th century mansions, one of which was the birthplace of composer Claude Debussy and another one the former home of painter Maurice Denis, both converted into museums.

The Maurice Denis "Prieuré" Museum, located in the former hospital built in 1680 under orders of King Louis the 14th and his official mistress Madame de Montespan, became in 1914 the home and studio of painter Maurice Denis, the theorician of the Nabi school.
Thanks to a donation from the Denis family it was opened in 1976 as a Museum dedicated to the artist production. It also includes masterpieces of the Symbolists, Post-Impressionists and Pont Aven School.

Home away from home for King Louis XIV, the original castle was set amidst the lush greenery of Marly's Royal forest. The former castle, now destroyed, was originally built in a fairytale kind of way and was the King's hideaway from Versailles. Its original splendor is still evoked by the magnificent " English style" Park.

You may also want to visit the "Promenade Museum " which is dedicated to memorabilia from this former Royal residence.
Marly's 17th and 18th century houses are built around a neighboring hill.

Its typical village atmosphere attracted many Impressionists painters, writers and artists (Aristide Maillot, Alexandre Dumas'son, Sisley).

Marly's royal town historical center cobblestone streets are lined up with hillside cozy mansion homes, some of them converted in restaurants or craft shops.
Its main street, going downhill from St Vigor's church steeple (built by Jules Hardouin Mansart between 1688 and 1689) which is contemporary of King Louis XIV, is leading into the Royal Park where the King used to have his private intimate court within the now bygone chateau.

It is also home of "Monte Cristo" castle, built in 1844 as the former residence of Alexandre Dumas on the slopes leading to the Seine river banks where you will follow the Impressionists path, a trail with reproductions of painting marked with enamel plaques.
The Marly fountain is a jewel and evokes the gigantesque engineering work of the machine de Marly which was bringing, over a 1200 ft uphill, the waters of the Seine river to Versailles.
Would you like to get an exceptional outdoors treat, you should hike, bike or horseback ride along the trails of the huge Saint Germain former royal forest.

For art lovers, the " Maison Fournaise ", on the Island of Impressionists, is definitely a stop to include in your visit to the region! In the late 19th century, this musical café became a favored hang out for artists, painters and writers: it was in this very spot that Pierre Auguste Renoir painted "le Dejeuner des Canotiers" one of his most significant work which can be seen in Washington DC. In fact Chatou was a source of inspiration for about thirty paintings, among which the portrait of "Monsieur Fournaise". The Museum displays rich artistic collections about the story of the Maison Fournaise and stages regular exhibits reviving the old times.

Nowadays, you can enjoy also good food in their restaurant where you can have lunch on the terrace of the famous painting of "le Dejeuner des Canotiers"

The Abbey of les Vaux de Cernay, the Ruins of the Abbey of Port Royal des Champs, the Castles and parks of Breteuil, Dampierre, Maisons Laffitte, Rambouillet, Thoiry, the Art and History Museum and Transportation Museum in Poissy, the Impressionist "Grenouillere" Museum in Croissy sur Seine, Andre Derain's studio in Chambourcy, Emile Zola's house in Medan,

9 castles, 39 museums, 16 parks and 6 Royal cities.