Stories of cape and sword fascinate the young and old. Did you know that it was in Saint-Germain-en-Laye that one of the most famous duels in the history of France took place? There’s also a plaque, visible in the castle, which recalls this historic moment. On 10 July 1547, two aristocrats, the Baron of Jarnac and François de Vivonne, faced off to settle a bitter score. Everyone predicted that Vivonne would be the winner – after all, he was the best swordsman in the kingdom. But to everyone's amazement, the underdog used a 'secret boot' that seriously wounded the favourite. Jarnac won the fight, and Vivonne succumbed to his wounds. Thus was born the expression 'coup de Jarnac'. In the world of fencing, this is the sudden strike of the sword that unexpectedly takes down the opponent. But for many, the term means a really low blow. What a story!
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