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The garden today is owned by the French Senate, which meets in the Palace. It covers 23 hectares (56.8 acres) and is known for its lawns, tree-lined promenades, tennis courts, flowerbeds, model sailboats on its octagonal Grand Bassin, as well as picturesque Medici Fountain, built in 1620. [1]
- Relax At The Medicis Fountain. The Fontaine Medicis – Medici Fountain – is my favourite place in the Jardin du Luxembourg. I first stumbled upon it while living in Paris back in 1992, thinking I had found a small corner of paradise, I was not wrong.
- Sail A Boat In The Grand Bassin. If you’re in Paris with kids, it’s well worth scheduling a visit to the Jardin du Luxembourg on a Wednesday or weekend.
- Explore The Statues Of The French Queens. The series of twenty statues on the Terrasse des Reines (Terrace of Queens) was added in the 19 century. Some French queens are depicted, as well as several notable women who made important contributions to French life.
- Watch A Game Of Boules. An afternoon on a shady court playing boules – also known as pétanque – is a hugely popular French tradition. And there’s no better place to watch it than the Jardin du Luxembourg.
Top Attractions. Parks and Gardens. Jardin du Luxembourg. Designed in 1612 by Marie de’ Medici, the Luxembourg Garden is the most centric, popular and beautiful park in Paris. The Luxembourg Palace, which gives its name to the gardens, is currently owned by the French Senate. Origins.
- The Gardens were created by Queen Marie de Medicis. When King Henri IV died in 1610, his Queen Marie de Médicis became a widow, she decided she had enough of the Palais du Louvre.
- Planting began in 1612. Plantations at the new Jardin du Luxembourg began in 1612, the day after the purchase of the land. As Queen and regent for her underage son Louis XIII, Marie hired the best architects and gardeners of the day.
- There was a convent in the way. One of the problems that Marie de Medicis ran into was that the gardens in front of the new palace but could not be extended since a convent stood in the way of one of the walls.
- Marie de Médicis never saw it finished. The site was not completed in 1631 when Marie de Médicis was exiled on the orders of her son, the King. Louis XIII had to strengthen his position as sovereign in the face of the omnipresence of the Habsburgs both politically and religious and family.
- Admire the Palais du Luxembourg. I recommend viewing the Palais du Luxembourg, the Senate’s meeting place, from all possible angles! It is truly a stunning work of French architecture.
- Visit the Little Statue of Liberty. Did you know that there is a miniature version of New York’s Statue of Liberty in the Jardin du Luxembourg? You can find Liberty Enlightening the World on the western side of the garden.
- Steer the mini sailboats in the pond. A great activity to keep kids occupied is to partake in the longstanding Parisian tradition of pushing antique boats through the giant water basin in the middle of the park.
- Visit the Fontaine Médicis. The Medici Fountain is a 17th century fountain also commissioned by Marie de’ Medici. Only part of the original fountain remains, and it was moved to its present day location in the mid 19th century during the reorganization of Paris.
Apr 12, 2023 · Jardin du Luxembourg is famous for mostly its beauty! In fact, it’s usually called the most beautiful park in Paris. With a large basin in the middle, well-maintained grassy areas, flowers, sculptures, and the beautiful Luxembourg Palace, it’s easy to see why.
6,2 million visitors in 2022. 25,7 hectares. 102 statues. 4 517 "Senate" and "Luxembourg" seats. Internationally recognized for its collections of fruit trees and orchids, the “Jardin du Luxembourg” is one of the most famous sites in Paris.
