Domaine national de Saint-Cloud

A royal and imperial summer residence, the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud has followed French history through all its twists and turns since the Renaissance. A château – which now sits in ruins – that was commissioned by Louis the Great’s brother once dominated this garden estate, which was designed by André Le Nôtre.

Now classed as a Historic Monument, the park is a popular destination for people living in western Paris and looking to get outdoors. Its 460 rolling hectares of pathways and woodland make a lovely spot for a stroll, or a picnic on the lawn. There’s also a breath-taking view of Paris from the terrace which is not to be missed. Water plays an important role here too, with plenty of fountains decorating the park as well as a large waterfall and an ornamental lake where jets of water shoot up more than 40 metres into the air.

Delving deeper into the woods you’ll find the Pavillon du Piqueur, a little farm offering a range of educational workshops on how to be more eco-friendly. The estate itself is also managed using sustainable development strategies, and visitors can take part in art, gardening, and cooking courses all year round.

The Domaine National de Saint-Cloud is also home to one of the Paris Region’s biggest summer music events, playing host to some of the most famous artists from all over the world at the weekend-long Rock en Seine festival at the end of August.

To guide you on your visit, download the free app (available on ITunes or Google Play) and use your smartphone or tablet to help you discover this vast estate though a historical circuit. Explore the alleys of the park without getting lost, thanks to the GPS feature, and see the château as it was in the 17th century.

Discover the Domaine national de Saint-Cloud through one of the treasure hunts in the Paris Region Adventures application specially designed for families and downloadable free of charge.

And don't miss the National Ceramics Museum of Sèvres : you will be offered an immersion into the history of ceramics and the art of potter.