Rambouillet Castle © France Bleu
With its charming villages and its dynamic towns, the Yvelines offers many historic and touristic attractions, at the gateway to Paris. The department’s attractions include historical châteaux, beautiful parks, and forests, such as the Rambouillet forest and Château de Rambouillet.
Yvelines has a diverse economy with strong sectors in automotive, aerospace, and electronics. Major companies have operations in the department, including the Renault automotive plant in Flins-sur-Seine.
Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a picturesque town, just west of Paris. It is renowned for the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, which was originally constructed in the 12th century. The castle has undergone numerous renovations and expansions over the centuries. The Sun King, Louis XIV, was born in the castle. Today, it hosts the National Museum of Archaeology, which features extensive collections of artifacts from prehistoric to medieval times.
© Saint Germain Boucles en Seine
The national park and gardens surrounding the château were designed by André Le Nôtre, the renowned landscape architect who was responsible for the most beautiful gardens of the 17th century, including the Versailles gardens. The gardens offer stunning views of the Seine valley and the La Défense business district.
Saint-Germain-en-Laye has strong ties with art, and was once home to the composer Claude Debussy. Today, the upper floor of his home has been transformed into a museum devoted to his legacy.
View from the Gardens © Saint-Germain-en-Laye Actu on Facebook
Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse
Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse is one of the stops of the Olympic torch relay in Yvelines. This charming town is nestled in the Chevreuse Valley, an area with lush forests and rolling hills. The town developed around its church, the Church of Saint-Rémy, which features architectural elements from the 11th and 12th centuries.
Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse is the home of the Coubertin family, a French noble family that left its mark in the area for over 400 years. In the 17th century, they built the Château de Coubertin, which further enhanced the town’s appeal. The family helped develop a leisure center, a garden, and a stadium, thus playing a key role in the development of the town.
Coubertin Castle © Le Parisien
Pierre de Coubertin, the father of the Modern Olympic Games, was born in this family. He played an important role in promoting physical education in schools and believed that sports could foster international peace and understanding. Even though he did not live in Saint-Rémy, he spent his summers with his father there.
The château now houses the Fondation de Coubertin, a center for arts and crafts, promoting traditional skills and craftsmanship.
Versailles
The most prominent feature of Versailles is the Palace of Versailles, a UNESCO World Heritage site. What began as a modest hunting lodge for King Louis XIII, was later transformed into the majestic Baroque style palace that exists today by his son Louis XIV, the Sun King. The palace was the royal residence of France from 1682 under Louis XIV until the French Revolution.
Hall of Mirrors © France Info / Opera of Versailles © Lucie Vallée
The signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, which ended World War I, took place in the Hall of Mirrors, the most famous room in the palace adorned with 357 mirrors that reflect the light from the garden-side windows, creating an illusion of endless space and light.
The gardens of Versailles are as significant as the palace itself, with their geometric precision and intricate water features, exemplifying the Baroque ideal of taming nature to human will. The Royal Opera of Versailles, located within the north wing of the palace, was inaugurated in 1770 to celebrate the marriage of the Dauphin – the future King Louis XVI – to Marie Antoinette.
Versailles Gardens © Visit Paris Region
Sport Facts
Several competitions of the Olympics will be held in Yvelines. The Palace of Versailles will be the venue for the modern pentathlon and equestrian events. The town of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines will host BMX freestyle, track cycling, and mountain biking competitions. The golf tournaments will be held at the Golf National course in Guyancourt. The Olympic torch relay is passing through all of these venues.
Yvelines is the birthplace of several renowned olympic athletes. Basketball superstar Victor Wembenyama was born and raised in Le Chesnay, where he started playing basketball. Le Chesnay is also where show jumping rider star Kevin Staut grew up. The olympic athlete will have the chance to compete in his home region. Saint-Germain-en-Laye is also the birthplace of French tennis prodigy Caroline Garcia.
Golf National course in Guyancourt © Golf National
Victor Wembenyama © Sports Illustrated / Kevin Staut © Kevin Staut Official Website / Caroline Garcia © Le JDD