Saint-Cloud can be explored through several distinct themes: the Domaine national de Saint-Cloud, the collection at the Musée des Avelines and the Hippodrome de Saint-Cloud. The 460-hectare Domaine offers beautiful views of Paris and the surrounding area. When choosing your stay, you can first consider whether park design, local history, virtual walks or horse racing should be the focus. The following highlights will help you distinguish between these interests and choose a focus for your trip.
The Domaine national: Cascade, Water and Views
The Grande Cascade is the central feature of the Domaine national de Saint-Cloud and offers a spectacle of water and sculptures. It stretches for almost 200 metres and has a height difference of 20 metres. In the park’s hydraulic system, it lies at the downstream end of the chain. Operating by gravity, the Grande Cascade helps power a series of 19 basins. For visitors interested in landscaped parks, this offers two perspectives: the interplay of water and sculptures, and the Cascade’s role within the hydraulic chain. Beautiful views of Paris and the surrounding area add to this park-focused experience.
Allow about 1.5 hours for a guided tour with the monument team; reservations are required. Check the reservation arrangements before your trip.
Church and Museum: History in Two Forms
The Church of Saint-Clodoald has been listed as a historic monument since 1995; its bell tower is more than 60 metres high. Information dated 24 March 2026 states that the church will remain open and accessible during restoration work. Check the restoration status before your visit.
The Musée des Avelines displays its permanent collection at Villa Brunet, documenting the history of Saint-Cloud. Eugène Carrière’s works in the collection include 15 paintings, 43 drawings and 3 lithographs. The permanent collection thus offers two clear points of connection with local culture: the city’s history and Carrière’s works. This focus differs from the park design around the Grande Cascade and may influence your choice of places to visit.
Virtual Walks Through Saint-Cloud
The free CityGem mobile app guides users on foot, by bicycle, scooter or car. It also offers virtual walks through the Pasteur/Magenta, Montretout/Coutureau, Centre/Village, Hippodrome and Coteaux neighbourhoods. If you’d like to explore Saint-Cloud digitally first, the walks provide specific neighbourhoods as points of reference. App features and availability may change, and the routes on offer may also be updated. So check the latest information before your stay.
The Hippodrome de Saint-Cloud: History and Visiting
Originally designed to entertain the public, the racecourse dates from the beginning of the 20th century. Visitors can watch and cheer on horses and jockeys from the grandstands or from the trackside throughout the year. The Hippodrome therefore offers a different focus from the park and museum: here, the action on the racetrack takes centre stage. If you’d like to plan your visit around a race day, check the event dates before your trip.
Discover more destinations: Asnières-Sur-Seine, Bourg-La-Reine, Châtenay-Malabry, Garches, Sèvres, Le Plessis-Robinson, Boulogne-Billancourt, Antony.
For the wider travel overview: Hauts-De-Seine.
