Parc du St Cloud *

Parc du St Cloud

I lived outside of Paris for a while in St Cloud. This was the first time I had ever lived in a major city for many years, being a nature girl the city always had its draw backs. But nevertheless St Cloud had a park that some times was referred to a Le poumon de Paris, "The Lung of Paris." and it became my playground to visit Mother Nature.    

During the weekends the park provided a place for families to gathered with their children for picnics or an old fashion french puppet show. The old men would gather for a game of bacha ball. And for myself I would be in my usual tree hugging, listening to the wind and taking  photos of Gods, Goddess. 

Parc du St Cloud was where the Gods/Goddesses still live. This park has, fountains, wooded forest, intimate gardens and a panoramic view of Paris. It was not far from the River Seine which most likely help provide water for the many fountains through out the park.

 It was only a short 7 minute walk from my house and the park became the fabric of my daily walks.  I found myself walking through the gardens of the Queens.  It was known as "La Route des Rois,"  "The Road of the Kings."  This road is lined with a straight row of trees and a round-about for a carriage drives that encircled the statues of the Roman Gods and Goddess.

 Catherine de Medici Italian princess who became the Queen of France was quite the pace maker of high fashion in her day. She made it fashionable to wear scented gloves, which was the beginning of essential oil business in France.  Queen Catherine also inspired the style of planting trees and art sculpture for the nobility's carriage rides, thus La Route des Rois.

  During the  winter months I pretty much had the park to myself where I wondered though the Garden of Diana or formal french garden with its straight lines and symmetry. Acres of wooded forest, fountains and secret hide aways for lovers to steal a kiss without being caught.  St Cloud's chateau originally was built by the Gondi family in the 16th century. It was later became a gift to Marie Antoinette from her husband, Louie XVI.  It became one of Napoleon's favorite resting place outside the city of Paris.  The chateau was destroyed in a fire 1870 during French/Prussian wars.

 The Park  is one of the most famous examples of 19th century history.  Andrea le Nortre a famous formal garden was the designer of the gardens and many fountains.