Today we stick closer to Paris with a look at Saint Germain en Laye (78), located in the western suburbs of Paris, about 20km away (just 25 minutes on the RER A, it’s the terminus of the line, where as soon as you leave the train station you see the Chateau de Saint Germain en Laye where Louis XIV was born). I’m so pleased to have Julie of Famille Summerbelle – the creator of those really awesome paper cut city maps and pens a great kid/design friendly blog with her husband – to continue our ‘Tour de France‘ from a French perspective.

P.S. She too was one of the “lucky ones” at Dîner en Blanc this year!

{There a lovely food market every weekend that we go to but my favourite place is this family owned old fromagerie were you will have the most delicious and creamy cheeses. Worth a visit just for the smell!}.

{Street view of the market place in Saint Germain en Laye.}

{Looking up – a lot of houses/apartment are build with this ‘meulière’ stone. Looking down – retro tiles in the fromagerie}

{I love this big blue door with the heavy door knocker. Detail of a locker on a window shutter.}

Worth checking out in Saint Germain en Laye:

• La Fromagerie Sebastien Dubois (pictured above)
• Petit Gateau: 10 Place Abbé de Porcaro 78100 Saint-Germain: delicious mini cakes, and patisserie workshop
• Nice walk in the Forest, and view of Paris: terrasse de Saint Germain en Laye
• Many cafés on the market place in the centre of St Germain + a lovely market Pace du Marché Neuf, les mardi et vendredi de 8h30 à 13h et le dimanche de 8h30 à 13h30.

Thanks, Julie!
Guest post by Famille Summerbelle (shop + blog).