West of Malmaison, at Marly-le-Roi, Louis XIV built a hunting lodge which served as an antidote to the grandeur of Versailles. The building disappeared after the Revolution, but the magnificent park and gardens remain, making a natural haven for picnickers and a chance for the kids to run amok. There are grand vistas over the Seine, grassy avenues cut through the trees, and an aquaduct which feeds numerous ponds and cooling fountains.