Described as one of the “Most Beautiful Gardens in France”, the park of the Carrières Mairie, or Town Hall, also known as the “Jardins de Mademoiselle de La Vallière”, is well worth the detour …

Tradition has it that the former residence of the Carrières Mairie was the secret meeting-place of Louis XIV and his lover, Louise de la Vallière.  The king’s favourite stayed there between 1661 and 1670, before renouncing life’s pleasures and joining the Carmelite nuns for the rest of her life.

The Court, which frequently stayed in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, sometimes passed through Carrières-sur-Seine; the ladies were always enchanted by the leafy haven of the château’s gardens, designed by André Le Nôtre and created by his nephew, Desgoffes.  Seen from the higher vantage point of the château, the gardens descend in a graceful slope towards the Seine.  Built during the golden age of the French-style garden, the park bears the undeniable mark of the 18^th century, in particular as a fine example of the use of perspective.

This outstanding site, built on different levels and including ponds, has been on the register of protected sites for over fifty years, and since 1996 has appeared on the list of “Most Beautiful Gardens in France”, complied by the Conservatoire des Jardins et Paysages de France.