Saint-Cloud Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Saint-Cloud

Commune

Saint-Cloud Town Hall

Coat of arms

Location (in red) within Paris inner suburbs

Saint-Cloud

Location in France

Saint-Cloud

Location in Île-de-France (region)

Country

Nanterre

Saint-Cloud

Grand Paris

Area

7.56 km² (2.92 sq mi)

Population

(2021)

29,727

• Density

3,932.1/km² (10,184/sq mi)

Time zone

UTC+01:00 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+02:00 (CEST)

INSEE/Postal code

92064 /92210

¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Saint-Cloud is a town located in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It's about 9.6 kilometers (6 miles) away from the very center of Paris. Saint-Cloud is known as one of France's wealthiest towns.

This town is also home to the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (IBWM). This important organization helps make sure that measurements like kilograms and meters are the same all over the world! It's located in a beautiful place called the Parc de Saint-Cloud.

History of Saint-Cloud
- The Royal Palace and Its Story
- Famous Porcelain and Police Headquarters
Exploring Saint-Cloud's Main Sights
- A Tribute to a Flying Pioneer
Getting Around Saint-Cloud
- Train and Tram Services
- Metro Connections
Healthcare in Saint-Cloud
Education in Saint-Cloud
Famous People from Saint-Cloud
- People Born in Saint-Cloud
- People Who Lived in Saint-Cloud
Twin Towns and Sister Cities
Images for kids
See also

History of Saint-Cloud

Napoleon Bonaparte during a big change in government in Saint-Cloud in 1799.

The town of Saint-Cloud gets its name from a person named Clodoald. He was the grandson of Clovis I, a famous king. Clodoald found safety in a small village near Paris, which was then called Novigentum. After he became a saint, the village where he was buried was renamed Sanctus Clodoaldus, which became Saint-Cloud.

The Royal Palace and Its Story

A large park in Saint-Cloud holds the remains of the Château de Saint-Cloud. This grand palace was built in 1572. Sadly, it was destroyed by fire in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War.

The château was once a home for many French rulers. It was also the main country home for a branch of the royal family called the Orléans until the French Revolution. A very important event happened at this palace: Napoleon Bonaparte took power in 1799. This event is known as the coup d'état of 18 Brumaire.

Famous Porcelain and Police Headquarters

Saint-Cloud is also famous for its special Saint-Cloud porcelain. This beautiful pottery was made here from 1693 to 1766.

For many years, the main office of the International Criminal Police Organization, known as Interpol, was in Saint-Cloud. Interpol helps police forces around the world work together. Their headquarters were here from 1966 until 1989, when they moved to Lyon.

Exploring Saint-Cloud's Main Sights

Santos Dumont posing near the statue built in his honor in 1913.

The most important places to see in Saint-Cloud are the park of the old Château de Saint-Cloud and the Pavillon de Breteuil. The Saint-Cloud Racecourse is also here. It's a special track for horse racing that was built in 1901. Many big races happen there, including the yearly Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.

A Tribute to a Flying Pioneer

On the Avenue de Longchamp, there is a bronze statue that honors Alberto Santos-Dumont. He was a very important inventor and pioneer in aviation, meaning he helped invent flying machines. The statue shows the Greek mythological figure Icarus, who tried to fly.

This statue was put up on October 19, 1913. It's near where Santos-Dumont did his experiments with early flying machines. He even built the world's first hangar, which is a building for airplanes, right here in Saint-Cloud! A copy of his original hangar has been in Saint-Cloud since 1952.

Getting Around Saint-Cloud

Saint-Cloud has good public transportation. You can get around using different types of trains and trams.

Train and Tram Services

Two train stations serve Saint-Cloud: Le Val d'Or and Saint-Cloud. These stations are part of the Transilien suburban rail lines that connect to Paris.

There's also a tramway called Line T2. This tram runs along the Seine River, offering nice views.

Metro Connections

The central part of Saint-Cloud, often called le village (the village), is also close to a Métro station. The Boulogne–Pont de Saint-Cloud station on Line 10 is just across the Seine River in the nearby town of Boulogne-Billancourt.

In the future, Saint-Cloud will also be connected to Line 15 of the Paris metro, which is currently being built.

Healthcare in Saint-Cloud

Saint-Cloud has a hospital called René Huguenin Hospital.

Education in Saint-Cloud

Internationale Deutsche Schule Paris

Saint-Cloud offers many schools for students.

Public High Schools

Lycée Alexandre-Dumas
Lycée Santos-Dumont

Students can also attend Lycée Jean Pierre Vernant in the nearby town of Sèvres.

Private High Schools

Institution Saint-Pie-X

International Schools

Saint-Cloud is home to schools that teach in different languages:

American School of Paris (teaches in English)
Internationale Deutsche Schule Paris (a German school)

Paris Nanterre University Saint-Cloud campus

A campus of the Paris Nanterre University is also located in the city, offering higher education.

Famous People from Saint-Cloud

Many notable people have been born or lived in Saint-Cloud.

People Born in Saint-Cloud

Philippe II, Duke of Orléans (1674–1723): He was a Regent of France, meaning he ruled the country for the king when the king was too young.
Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans (1747–1793): An important figure during the early parts of the French Revolution.
Princess Marie Bonaparte (1882–1962): A psychoanalyst who worked closely with Sigmund Freud.
Jean-Claude Killy (born 1943): A famous alpine skier who won three Olympic gold medals.
Hervé Guibert (1955–1991): A well-known writer.
Mino Cinelu (born 1957): A talented musician.

People Who Lived in Saint-Cloud

Henri III of France (1551–1589): A King of France.
Philippe d'Orléans (1640–1701): He lived in the Château de Saint-Cloud for many years.
Napoléon I (1769–1821): The famous French emperor lived in the Château de Saint-Cloud.
Émile Verhaeren (1855–1916): A Flemish poet.
Maurice Ravel (1875–1937): A famous French composer.
Alberto Santos-Dumont (1873–1932): The Brazilian inventor and aviation pioneer we mentioned earlier.
Lino Ventura (1919–1987): A well-known Italian actor.
Jean-Marie Le Pen: A French politician.

Twin Towns and Sister Cities

Saint-Cloud has special connections with other cities around the world. These are called "twin towns" or "sister cities." They often share cultural exchanges and friendships.