By Cécile D. Photos by My B. Published on August 5, 2023 at 6:17 am
The Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye participates in Heritage Days 2023. On the program for these Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September, guided tours of the Château and the National Archeology Museum, and many other surprises, for a dive unique in the heart of history.
Monument par excellence, the Castle of Saint-Germain-en-Laye has a fascinating history, which we invite you to discover during the Heritage Dayswhose 39th edition is held on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September 2023.
Built in the 12th century by King Louis VI le Gros, the Castle of Saint-Germain-en-Laye is first of all a fortress in height. Then, Saint-Germain will be transformed by the King Francis Iwhich gives the castle a Renaissance-style in order to install the main residence of the kings of France. It was in Saint-Germain that Kings Henri II Henri IV and Louis XIV were born. If the arrangements designed by François I remain, Louis XIV will ask André Le Nôtre to redevelop the gardens.
That’s what the Gardener to the King in 1663, with large flowerbeds in front of the castle, perspectives towards infinity, but above all a panoramic view of the Seine valley : the Large Terrace 2.4 kilometers long!
After Louis XIV deserted the “New Castle” for Versailles in 1682, history has it that Napoleon I made the place a cavalry schoolbefore Napoleon III decreed in 1862 that the Château de Saint-Germain would host a “Museum of Celtic and Gallo-Roman Antiquities” : since then, it has changed its name to National Archeology Museum and continues to acquire many objects, three million including 29,000 exposed – from the Palaeolithic to the early Middle Ages.
This remarkable monument and its collections are therefore to be discovered during Heritage Days, through different animations suitable for the whole family.
regular garden, the large terrace of Le Nôtre, the Château du Val, the Salamandre circuit, the duck pond – See more at:
On the program of Heritage Days 2023 at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye:
Workshop Paint as a tribe!
Saturday September 16, 10:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m.
Try to revive the techniques and methods of our predecessors by creating a work of art inspired by the pieces displayed in our collection. This workshop was designed to enjoy a moment of creation shared with the family: children, parents and grandparents are welcome!
Suitable for families with children 6 years and older
Visit “A remarkable castle and garden”
September 16 and 17
This pastoral visit offers a unique perspective on the history and architecture of the castle. You will also have the opportunity to discover the history of the national domain during a walk in the gardens.
Storytelling tour The Iliad and the Odyssey
Saturday, September 16, 3:45 p.m.
The Trojan War, which has now been going on for almost ten years, pits the Achaeans from all over Greece against the Trojans and their allies. Within sight of the walled city, the attackers’ hundreds of ships lay on the beach, which served as a camp. Explore the epics of The Iliad and the Odyssey through the museum’s collections.
Living in the time of the Gauls
September 16 and 17
The Gallic populations resided during Late Protohistory, a period known as the “Second Iron Age”, covering the years 480 to 52 BCE. These peoples were part of the vast whole of Gaul, a region so called by the Romans and the Greeks, and were linked to a large community originating in eastern Europe, the Celts. They shared a common language, beliefs, material culture and art, while being divided into several groups and autonomous regions. How did they live? What were the distinctive features of their Celtic culture? Explore their everyday life, their belief system, their art, through the museum’s impressive collections.
Workshop “Use of clay in the Neolithic”
Sunday, September 17, 10:30 a.m.
During the Neolithic period, man became a producer of his own food, learning to control his environment. It was at this time that the first villages were built. New technologies have emerged or reached their peak: polished stone, weaving, and ceramics. The use of earthenware containers, heavy and fragile, corresponds to a sedentary way of life and is associated with the existence of villages. In addition, clay was used for other purposes: construction of houses, manufacture of small statuettes, weighting of spindles, construction of ovens… After having approached the Neolithic period and the way of life of the women and men of our region, you will assemble a ceramic using the techniques of the time.
You really will not be disappointed with the visit! However, consider to book your place in advance to participate in the animations. If the weather is good, we even advise you to picnic in the gardensmoment of relaxation out of time guaranteed!
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