ough from town to be
recognized as in the country, and still others as remote as Rambouillet,
Chantilly and Compiegne. All, however, were intimately connected with
the life of the capital in the mediaeval and Renaissance days, and
together form a class distinct from any other monumental edifices which
exist, or ever have existed, in France.

Mere historic fact has been subordinated as far as possible to a recital
of such picturesque incidents of the life of contemporary times as the
old writers have handed down to us, and a complete chronological review
has in no manner been attempted.

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE

I. INTRODUCTORY 13
II. THE EVOLUTION OF FRENCH GARDENS 14
III. THE ROYAL HUNT IN FRANCE 43
IV. THE PALAIS DE LA CITE AND TOURNELLES 61
V. THE OLD LOUVRE AND ITS HISTORY 75
VI. THE LOUVRE OF FRANCIS I AND ITS SUCCESSORS 85
VII. THE TUILERIES AND ITS GARDENS 106
VIII. THE PALAIS CARDINAL AND THE PALAIS
ROYAL 131
IX. THE LUXEMBOURG, THE ELYSEE AND THE
PALAIS BOURBON 151
X. VINCENNES AND CONFLANS 168
XI. FONTAINEBLEAU AND ITS FOREST 180
XII. BY THE BANKS OF THE SEINE 203
XIII. MALMAISON AND MARLY 215
XIV. SAINT CLOUD AND ITS PARK 229
XV. VERSAILLES: THE GLORY OF FRANCE 244
XVI. THE GARDENS OF VERSAILLES AND THE TRIANONS 260
XVII. SAINT GERMAIN-EN-LAYE 279
XVIII. MAINTENON 296
XIX. RAMBOUILLET AND ITS FOREST 309
XX. CHANTILLY 324
XXI. COMPIEGNE AND ITS FOREST 342
INDEX 363

[Illustration: List of Illustrations]

PAGE

TERRACE OF HENRI IV, SAINT GERMAIN (_see page 286_) _Frontispiece_
THE LOUVRE, THE TUILERIES AND THE PALAIS ROYAL OF TO-DAY _facing_ 12
"JARDIN FRANCAIS--JARDIN ANGLAIS"