 He spent the remainder of his days there, and died on 16 September 1701.<ref></ref>

Prior to the French Revolution in 1789, it had been a royal town and the Château de Saint-Germain the residence of numerous French monarchs.The old château was constructed in 1348 by King Charles V on the foundations of an old castle ("château-fort") dating from 1238 in the time of Saint Louis.Francis I was responsible for its subsequent restoration.