Essentially composed of oak (53%) and beech (18%), it is now a forest bordered by built up areas and divided by communication links: route nationales, A14 and the railway line from Paris to Caen.

The Fête des Loges is, every year, organised in an open space near Saint-Germain.

Very early it became a royal domain and hunting grounds of the Kings of France who resided at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye.

Henry IV and Louis XIII of France often used the forest for fox hunting.

He also built a high wall, finished by Napoléon, encircling the forest to prevent game from escaping the woods.