Musée d’archéologie nationale in Saint-Germain-en-Laye

You're standing at the château of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, about nineteen kilometres west of Paris. This is home to France's National Archaeological Museum. From the twelfth century on, this was one of the most important royal residences around Paris. Once the court moved to Versailles, the castle had quite a colourful life. The exiled English king James the Second held court here. Later it became a cavalry school, and from 1836 to 1855 even a military prison.