Parc de Saint-Cloud
The Parc de Saint-Cloud, officially the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud, is a domaine national (federal territory), located mostly within Saint-Cloud, in the Hauts-de-Seine department, near Paris, France.
The park, which covers 460 hectares, was a nature reserve until 1923. It is considered one of the most beautiful gardens in Europe, and in 2005 the park was awarded Notable Garden status. On 9 November 1994 the park was classified as a Historic Monument. In 1999 a winter storm heavily damaged the park's forests. As of late 2008, restoration efforts were still underway. The park is operated as a domaine nationale under the French Ministry of Culture.
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History
The park is located on the site of the Château de Saint-Cloud, a residence of royal and imperial families from the 16th century. After Napoleon III declared war on the Prussians, the site was occupied by a Prussian force which used the high outcropping to shell Paris. Counter-fire from the French caused the building to burn on 13 October 1870. The structure was completely razed in August 1892.
Only a few outbuildings remain from the original structure. The park contains a Le Nôtre-designed garden in the French style, an English garden, and Marie Antoinette's rose garden.
The park showcases a panoramic view of Paris called "La Lanterne" or the "Lantern of Demosthenes".
Nothing Compares 2 U
The video "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinéad O'connor was filmed in this park. The clip consists almost solely of a closeup on Sinéad O'Connor's face as she sings the lyrics, sometimes with angry expression; the rest consists of her walking through the Parc de Saint-Cloud.
Buildings and points of interest
- Musée du château de Saint-Cloud: A five-room museum dedicated to the destroyed chateau
- École Normale Supérieure (E.N.S.): Located in the Pavillon Valois
- Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (B.I.P.M.): The International Bureau of Weights and Measures is located in the Pavillon de Breteuil; the building contains copies of the meter and kilogram standards.
Access
The park is accessible via Pont de Sèvres and Boulogne - Pont de Saint-Cloud metro stations. The T2 tramway runs along the eastern limit of the park.
External links
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- History of Saint-Cloud (French)
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