The main line follows the highroad to St. Germain, on the S.
side of which it ascends, traverses the Place Royale and the Avenue
Gambetta, turns to the left into the Rue Thiers, skirting the palace,
and halts in the Place du Château. —11 1/2 M. St. Germain-en-Laye.

ST. GERMAIN-EN-LAYE.

Stations. Gare de l'Ouest (Pl. D, E. 3; lift from the arrival-platform
to the level of the exit, 10 c); Gare de Grande Ceinture (Pl. A, 2; see p. 361).

Hotels-Restaurants. 'Pavillon Henri IV et de la Terrasse (Pl. E, 3),
at the beginning of the terrace (p. 369), of the first class, à la carte, with
a 'salon historique', a domed ceiling painted by Tournier (1863; Apotheosis
of Louis XIV.), and a bust of Offenbach, by Franceschi; Pavillon Louis XIV
et Continental (P). a; D, 2), Rue d'Alsace, at the beginning of the forest,
of the first class (closed in winter), déj. 4, D. 6 fr., or à la carte; Prince
de Galles (Pl. c ; D, 3), to the right of the church; Ange-Gardien, De
France (Pl. d and e; E, 4), Rue de Paris 74 and 63, near the barracks,
déj. 2 1/2, D. 3 fr. — Pension Leconte. Rue Franklin 3, pens, from 5 fr.

Restaurants. Aigle-d'Or, Rue du Vieil-Abreuvoir, déj. 2 1/2 fr. inch
wine, good; Targe, Rue an Pain 83, at the corner of the Rue de la Ré-
publique, déj. or D. 2 1/2 fr. (also pastry-cook). — Cafés. Café du Débarcadère,
Place du Château; François Premier, Rue de la Surintendance, etc.

Cabs (in the Place du Chateau). Within the barriers, per drive 1 1/4 fr.
on Sun. and holidays l 1/2 fr. ; per hour 2 and 2 1/2 fr. Beyond the barriers,
within a radius of 15 kil. (9 1/2 M.), 2 1/2 and 3 fr. per hour; 'indemnité'
for return if the carriage be dismissed outside the barriers.

Steam Teamway. To Paris see p. 364. To (3 1/4 M.) Poissy (p. 432). in
25 min. ; dep. from St. Germain (Rue de la République, behind the church)
at 15 min. past the hour, from Poissy at 44 min. past the hour.

Post & Telegraph Office (Pl. P and T), Rue François-Bonvin (Pl. C,
D,3); branch-office opposite the theatre in the Place du Château.

Protestant Church (Pl. D, 2), Avenue des Loges.

St. Germain (280 ft.), a quiet town with 17,297 inhab., is noted
for its beautiful situation and healthy air, which as far back as the
12th cent, caused it to be a favourite summer residence of the kings
of France. It is much frequented in summer by Parisians, and there
are a number of English residents.

The Château (Pl. E, 31 owes its origin to a fortress built on this
site by Louis le Gros (1108-37) to command the Seine. The pretty
Gothic chapel, which is still in existence, was built by St. Louis.
During the wars with England the castle was destroyed. It was
restored by Charles V., but the present building, whose gloomy
strength contrasts strikingly with the cheerful appearance of other
contemporaneous edifices, dates from the time of Francis I., who
here celebrated his nuptials with Claude, daughter of Louis XII.
It was designed by Pierre Chambiyes and Guillaume Guillain. Henri II.
began another château, completed by Henri IV.; but this was de-
stroyed in 1776. with the exception of the Pavilion Henri IV (see
above). Louis XIV. was born here in 1638, and he retired hither
after the death of his mother Anne of Austria (p. 89) in order to
escape from the uncongenial atmosphere of Paris. Finding the space
inadequate, however, he constructed the sumptuous palace of Ver-
sailles (p. 343). The chateau was afterwards occupied for 12 years
by the exiled king James II, who died here in 1701 and was inter-