Jardin du Luxembourg - A Beautiful Paris Garden
A stroll around Jardin du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Garden) takes you back in history to the golden days when ladies dressed in their Sunday best and shielded their fair faces from the sun with frilly parasols. Being out and seen by others was almost as important as people watching yourself, and really, not that much has changed! Jardin du Luxembourg is still the perfect garden to stroll through or to sit quietly and watch others as they also enjoy the garden.
Let's explore the garden together along with just a few of my photos taken on visits to Jardin du Luxembourg.
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A Garden for Everyone
I particularly love Jardin du Luxembourg with its abundance of chairs and benches, pétanque fields, children's playground, carousel, tennis courts, pond and hidden statues amongst formal gardens. And what about the Grand Bassin duck pond - just spectacular! It is the garden for everyone. I recall a lovely experience whilst at the garden in my post The Best Surprises Ever - Confessions of a Tour Guide.
The Garden is Known by Many Names
This jardin (garden) which many will agree, is one of the most beautiful gardens in Paris, is known by a few names. It is colloquially referred to as the Jardin du Sénat and known locally as the "Luco". That's because since 1879 Jardin du Luxembourg has been owned by the French Senate and the palace has been its home.
Jardin du Luxembourg is Located in the 6th Arrondissement
Located in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, Jardin du Luxembourg was created in 1612 by Marie de Médici to surround the new residence she had commissioned and built in the early 1600s, the Palais du Luxembourg.
Marie de Médici had the Palais (Palace) built as a way of easing her longing of her childhood home, the renowned Pitti Palace in Florence, Italy.
Jardin du Luxembourg Used To Be Even Larger
The garden is a marvellous melding of tree-edged promenades, broad lawns, flowers beds and an orangery nurturing more than 400 species of orchids. The original gardens remained intact until the end of the 18th century when they were reduced by about ten hectares and it was not until the redevelopment of Paris that the gardens were reduced in size again.
Trees near the orangery
During the redevelopment of Paris by Baron Haussmann twenty-two hectares of the garden were given to creating room for rue Médici and rue Auguste Comte. Imagine how large Luxembourg Garden would be with its original extra thirty-two hectares!
The gardens, which are managed and maintained by the Senate, are a combination of French geometric discipline, carved terraces and a plantation of chestnut trees which provides cool shade in summer and fabulous colour in autumn.
The garden boasts an orchard with a variety of old and forgotten apples, an apiary for you to learn bee keeping and a rose garden. Read our post on the apiary and beehives in Jardin du Luxembourg and on the rooftops of Paris' buildings.
L'Hiver sculpture by Michel Anguier
There are also numerous statues, 106 according to Paris - The Official website of the convention and Visitors Bureau. I have not seen all the 106 statues but I have seen the twenty marble statues of the queens and illustrious women from French history. This series of statues are called Serie des Reines et Femmes Illustres (series of the Queens and Illustrious Women).
The statues of these famous and illustrious women are detailed and the folds of the clothes are so realistic. The ladies look across the garden and seem to keep watch on its happenings.
The Médici Fountain
Jardin du Luxembourg also has water features, including the most famous, the Médici Fountain.
The Médici Fountain is a monumental fountain built in about 1630 for Marie de Médici. Its ornate Italian inspired design is quite different to the geometric French layout of the gardens and the formality of many areas of the garden.
Médici Fountain with sculpture of the giant Polyphemus and the lovers Acis and Galatea
Where to Eat in Jardin du Luxembourg
Jardin du Luxembourg is very popular in the summer months with Parisians and visitors soaking up the sun in the iconic green metal chairs, chatting on benches, strolling or even playing tennis on the courts within the garden. After walking or playing, a drink or some food might be just want you need and there are a couple of lovely choices.
La Terrasse de Madame
The pretty restaurant La Terrasse de Madame which opened in 2019 has a terrace to sit and dine at, and the restaurant also has take away options. It has become a popular spot for locals to meet each other.
Children's Activities at Jardin du Luxembourg
Children are well taken care of in the garden with one of the best playgrounds in Paris, an ancient carousel, a toy vendor and model boat sailing. A side note to photographers: you will be asked to follow the guidelines of 'no photo taking' around the fenced playground. All photos of children in this area are prohibited.
You've probably seen children playing with wooden sailboats at the Grand Bassin duck pond, but did you know that his tradition is almost 100 years old?
Clément Paudeau, who had a passion for hand-made wooden boats (with the fabric sails hand-sewn by his wife), had the idea of renting them to children in Luxembourg Gardens for two sous. They became an instant hit and the activity is a tradition long associated with the garden.
You can still rent wooden boats by the hour or half hour and don't fear, if your boat gets stuck the yacht vendor has a pair of sturdy gumboots that he can put on to go into the pond and rescue your boat. (See them in his cart above.)
If you or your children are looking for amusement ideas, there is also the toy seller with handy items suitable for playing in the garden. He also sells sweets and cool drinks for a quick pick-me-up.
Have you noticed that the cafe, toy seller, benches, restaurant La Terrasse de Madame, cafe roof and fences are all painted the same green colour? There is a historical reason why this is so. Read about this in my post Why Are All Paris Benches & Fences Green? It's a fascinating read. You can also visit the official Paris Tourism Website for more information about Paris
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