On this day, the Duc de Croÿ, in limbo while waiting for orders, decides to make use of his free time to visit Saint-Germain. He has not been there since at least 12 or 15 years ago when he last hunted with Louis XV. Cantering out of Versailles, he marvels at how much the royal city has grown. Several new roads have been made in the last decade. Approaching Saint-Germain, he recognizes nothing in the town except the Old Château, of which the governor is the Maréchal de Noailles. Going in to call on him, he finds him at table with his family. A place is laid for Croÿ and he has a good time during the meal. Afterwards, he walks in the new English-style gardens, which he finds enchanting. He returns to Versailles in the evening.
Commentary:
All the royal châteaux have a resident governor even if the King never goes there. The new gardens at Saint-Germain are the doing of M de Noailles. Croÿ also mentions some new outbuildings that the governor commissioned.
Pictured: A view of the Château-Neuf (foreground) and the Château-Vieux (background) at Saint-Germain-en-Laye, as imagined by the 19th century artist Guillaumont.
The Old Château at Saint-Germain is so called because there is also a New Château. The former dates from the Middle Ages, though it has been much rebuilt. The latter was built for Henri IV. Louis XIV was born in the Old Château and Louis XIII died in it. Later, it was Louis XIV’s main residence in the 20 years before he moved permanently to Versailles. After the Glorious Revolution, he lent it to the exiled James II and his family. No royal personages have lived there since although Louis XV occasionally spent the night when hunting in the nearby forest.
Louis XVI gives the New Château to his youngest brother the Comte d’Artois, the future Charles X. He demolishes it with the intention of rebuilding it in a fashionable style, but the Revolution puts an end to that project, which is why only the Old Château remains today. It is now home to the National Museum of Archaeology.
If you have questions that I have not addressed in the commentary, please ask in the comments.