Really a western suburb of Paris, St. Germain is the home of the Musee des Antiquites Nationales, the national archaeological museum that documents the millennia of human presence in the territory of present-day France. It's a treasure trove for anyone interested in prehistoric, Celtic or Gallo-Roman artifacts. The chateau itself once belonged to Louis XIV, and the surrounding royal forest and gardens make for a very nice stroll. The town is 15 mi/20 km west of Paris and easily reached via the suburban RER train.
