Other than Palenque Bob's Nov 2003 brief blurb, does anyone have more detailed information on St. Cloud in France? More precisely, I would like to visit the castle there that was once one of Napoleon's residences.

I know St. Cloud is outside of Paris on the Seine but not sure if easy to navigate via train/RER/bus from Paris? If anyone has visited this town (and the castle/chateau) recently, can you please help me out? Thanks!

I used mappy.com and also found the "Plan de Ville" on the town's website... from the bus stop 'Parc de St Cloud', it appears to be about 600-800 meters walk to reach the musuem/chateau buildings. Bus 52 - runs between Opera and Parc de St Cloud; bus 72 - runs between Hotel de Ville and Parc de St Cloud.

Mappy map:
http://linktrim.com/47z

Plan de Ville (interactive):
http://www.ville-saint-cloud.fr/uplo...saintcloud.htm

You can get the bus maps from www.ratp.fr by entering "52" or "72" on the "plans de lignes - bus" page.

I've been to St-Cloud several times to visit a friend of mine (I spent a week a few years ago). I usually take the train at Gare St-Lazare and arrive in St-Cloud about 30 min. later. Along the way, you'll have great views of Paris. I've often gone for walks in the Parc de St-Cloud where the castle is located. It's really very nice.

If you have time, I suggest that you also visit St-Cloud itself, just below the Parc. It is a lovely small town with a wonderful view of Paris.

Ginny

The château itself no longer exists. It was burnt down during the franco-prussian war of 1870! But much of the park, designed by landscape architect Le Nôtre in the 17 th century, remains with its original features (formal ponds and cascades, perpectives, tre-lined walkways) remains. Best seen on summer sundays when the gravity-fed fountains are turned on.

If no chateau left standing in St Cloud, there's always
- Fontainebleau
- Malmaison

A good way to reach St Cloud park is to take the tram that goes along the Seine (transfer to it from RER C) - the tram has a stop at the bottom of the park and it's a short walk but steep walk up to the castle remains area and superlative views over Paris. Near where the tram stops is also the celebrated ceramics manufacturer at Sevres, which is open for its museum and to see the workshops. The tram or bus route previously described is a whole lot closer to the actual St Cloud park than St. Cloud itself - and it can be a bit tricky from the town to find the park, having to cross a busy autoroute. But the town is sweet too.

Thank you all for this information! As a Napoleon scholar, I have already been to Fontainebleau and Malmaison several times. I just hadn't made it to St. Cloud and wanted to see what I could of it. Sounds like the town is worth seeing as well.

(PalQ - are you the former Palenque Bob?)