Luxembourg Gardens and Palace. Luxembourg Garden: the largest park in Paris

Which was built by order of the widow of Henry IV in the 17th century. It is considered a wonderful place for walking in the summer, as it is strewn with a variety of beautiful flowers, majestic trees, and dense bushes. The pride of the garden are neat lawns of regular geometric shapes, various entertainment options on the premises and a huge bright fountain with high terraces. Adults can sit on benches here, enjoying the purity of the local air, or even lie on the green lawn. Children will also not get bored in this fabulous place; they can have a wonderful time launching boats on the pond or playing on one of the specially equipped playgrounds.

Luxembourg Gardens in Paris: what to see?

Luxembourg Gardens in Paris has always played an important role in the life of France, since initially it was the pride of the king, and then became a state palace park. A wonderful opportunity opens up for you to stroll along the favorite alleys of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Guy de Maupassant, Denis Diderot, Victor Hugo and many other truly brilliant people. The park occupies about 26 hectares of land in a popular Parisian area, so the garden has its own attractions that attract many tourists to this beautiful place. Among these assets it is worth highlighting:

1) Luxembourg Palace in Paris- a unique structure built in the 17th century. commissioned by Marie de Medici and became the residence of the French kings. Nowadays, the building does not lose its significance, since meetings of the lower house of the French parliament are held within its walls. The palace amazes with its unique transitional architectural style: from Renaissance to Baroque, which is distinguished by its discreet chic interior. In addition to the beautiful rooms of the building, as well as meeting with French parliamentarians, you can visit the national museum in the palace.
2) The Medici Fountain is one of the largest and most beautiful capital fountains, built in the 18th century. The water feature is an excellent example of the Baroque style of architecture. The highlight of the fountain can be called the incomparable sculptures of mythical themes, made of white marble and other expensive materials, creating an extraordinary composition.

3) “Star Alley” is a spacious street lined with statues of women who contributed to the development of France, as well as European queens. The property of the collection is the Statue of Liberty, which has become an adapted prototype of the famous American sculpture.
In addition, cultural events are regularly held on the territory of the Luxembourg Gardens: various exhibitions, concerts, sports games.

Luxembourg Gardens in Paris: opening hours

Unmatched Parisian park ready to receive guests and residents of the French capital every day. The latter, by the way, quite often walk through its beautiful green spaces.
During the high tourist season (from April to October) the garden is open from 7.30 to 21.45, and in other months it can be visited from 8.15 to 16.45.
Exceptions to this schedule are days of national holidays on which the park is not open (Easter, Christmas, Ascension, Pentecost, May 1 and some others), as well as days of important parliamentary events.
It should be noted that entrance to the park is completely free.

Luxembourg Gardens in Paris: how to get there?

This amazing park area is located in the 6th arrondissement of the French capital, in the Latin Quarter, not far from Saint Michel Boulevard and Notre Dame Cathedral. His address: Boulevard Saint-Michel, 75005 Paris, France.
There are several ways to get to this beautiful recreation area:
1) On foot, if you are strolling along Boulevard Saint Michel and want to take a little break in a cozy atmosphere and harmony with nature.
2) By metro. To do this you need to go to Odeon station.
3) On RER trains heading to the Luxembourg stop.
4) On city buses with numbers: 21, 27, 38, 58, 82, 83, 84, 85, 89.

Paris is an amazing city filled with beautiful buildings and parks. The famous Tuileries Park can be called the most famous in the city. But the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens are perhaps the most favorite place not only for Parisians themselves, but also for guests of the city. It’s not for nothing that Hugo and Balzac even mentioned him in their works.

Location

The Luxembourg Gardens are located on the left bank of the Seine. The Sorbonne University and the Latin Quarter are located nearby. There are always a lot of students on its lawns finishing their assignments, and mothers and grandmothers stroll along the alleys of the park with their kids. The park always has a calm and peaceful atmosphere; there are always a lot of people here. The garden is an oasis of peace and quiet amid the bustle of Paris. Joe Dassin very accurately conveyed the atmosphere of the park in his song. Since its foundation, the Luxembourg Garden has become a favorite place for Parisians of all ages. Years and centuries pass, and the alleys of the park are still crowded with people.

History of the garden

Like any famous landmark, the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris has its own history. The beautiful park appeared thanks to the whim of Marie de Medici. It was she who gave the order to lay out the garden in 1611. This event occurred shortly after the death of her husband Henry IV, who was stabbed to death by a religious fanatic. Maria de Medici was crowned, at her enormous request, literally the day before the unfortunate event. As a result, she changed her faith for the sake of the French throne. Overnight, she became regent under her son, gaining unlimited power.

Marie de Medici grew up in beautiful Florence, so Paris seemed incredibly gloomy and cold to her. Having received power, she immediately gave orders for the arrangement of a beautiful park and palace that would remind her of what she was used to in Florence. For this purpose, Marie de Medici acquired the former estate of the then deceased Duke of Pinay, who was a representative of the Luxembourg family. It is for this reason that the castle and park got their name. Thus, the duke's surname was immortalized and gained worldwide fame. If the Luxmeboug Garden had not been laid out on the territory of his estate, it is unlikely that anyone would have remembered his name even after a hundred years.

Initially, the park was planned to be planted with a large number of trees, with many ponds and numerous flower beds. For all this it was necessary to have water, so an aqueduct was built. Much that was conceived and brought to life in that era has survived even to this day.

The palace was built within fifteen years. To this day it appears before us in the form of an openwork Tuscan castle. During the construction work, all the wishes of Maria Medici, who wanted to get a palace that reminded her of her native Florence, were fulfilled.

Fountains of the Luxembourg Gardens

It is worth noting that the main objects of the garden are numerous bodies of water. And at one time a large central fountain was planned as the center of the park composition; it remains the main place in the park to this day. The pond is surrounded by a horseshoe-shaped ramp with terraces of flowers.

Even the most famous and romantic fountain of the garden, called the Medici, has survived to this day. The reservoir was built by Salomon Debros (architect of the palace) in 1624. On the other side of the complex there is a bas-relief - Leda and the Swan. And the front part of the fountain itself looks more like a pond in which fish live.

In addition, there is an observatory fountain in the garden, which was created by several architects at once. The center of the entire composition is four girls, on whose shoulders the earthly sphere rests. The figures of women represent the four continents on Earth. But Australia was deliberately not included in the composition, because, in the opinion of the authors, it would have violated all the harmony.

The park, which had not yet been fully developed, was already very popular among the residents of Paris in the seventeenth century. In general, the garden has survived a variety of times. After the Great French Revolution, noble prisoners walked around it, and the palace itself became an elite prison. It was during this period that the park area acquired its current size, since the revolutionaries annexed the lands of the neighboring monastery. Currently, the Luxembourg Gardens cover an area of ​​about 26 hectares.

The park was opened to the public only in the eighteenth century. Celebrities such as Denis Diderot and Jean-Jacques Rousseau loved to stroll along its alleys.

Garden and celebrities

It is worth noting that the park has seen many celebrities on its territory throughout its history. And its landscapes are depicted in the works of poets and artists. This is what Joe Dassin sings about in one of his songs. The Luxembourg Gardens in general was a place of inspiration for many creative people, among whom were not only the French, but also Russian writers and poets: Joseph Brodsky, Anna Akhmatova, Maria Tsvetaeva.

The garden remained forever captured in the works of David and Delacroix, George Sand, Hugo, Balzac, Hemingway.

And now on the Russian stage you can see a lyrical comedy based on the play by Lev and Alexander Shargorodsky “The Garden of Luxembourg”. BDT - Bolshoi Drama Theater named after G. A. Tovstonogov - timed the performance to coincide with the 85th anniversary of G. A. Shtil, People's Artist of Russia.

Luxembourg Palace

Speaking about the park, it is impossible not to mention the famous palace of the same name, built by Maria de Medici. True, its building was rebuilt several times, but still it has retained its lightness and airiness to this day. At one time, Maria de Medici commissioned the famous artist Rubens for 21 canvases for the new palace, which reflected scenes from her life, as well as three of her own portraits. Currently, the paintings are kept in the Louvre.

Maria de Medici was not able to enjoy her creation for long. Soon after the completion of construction, she was expelled from Paris by her own son, Louis XIII, tired of his mother’s intrigues. At that time, he had great confidence in an equally intriguing prime minister known as Cardinal Richelieu. Maria de Medici wandered around Europe for more than ten years, after which she settled completely alone in Cologne, in the house of her beloved artist Rubens, who had already died by that time.

Meanwhile, life was in full swing at the Luxembourg Palace. Another son of the queen, Gaston d'Orleans, and his daughter (Duchess de Montpensier) settled within its walls. Until the revolution of 1789, the palace remained royal. And in 1791 the building was declared state. It housed the Directory, then the House of Peers and the Senate.

Park sculptures

The Luxembourg Garden (photo given in the article) is decorated with numerous sculptures. Near the palace building there is “Woman with Apples”. And very close by you can see marble statues of the most famous French queens, which appeared here in the nineteenth century.

The garden was also decorated with sculptures by Paul Varlain, Charles Baudelaire, Gustave Flaubert, Stendhal, Massenet, Eugene Delacroix and Antoine Watteau. In general, throughout the park there are a lot of stone and bronze sculptures that appeared here in different periods. There are 106 of them in total.

In addition, the garden is famous for its beautiful flower beds and green terraces.

Greenhouses and orangery

On the territory of the garden there are a number of buildings, which include greenhouses and a greenhouse. Their presence is simply necessary, since gardeners change the plants in each flower bed three times a year. The seedlings are cultivated in a greenhouse, and the flowers then fall into flower beds. In total, 180 varieties of plants are propagated in the greenhouse and greenhouses, including tropical forms. In the summer, they display temporary exhibitions for tourists.

Luxembourg Gardens: reviews

According to tourists, this is one of those places that are definitely worth visiting in Paris. Numerous mentions of the park in Dumas’ book about the Three Musketeers and Joe Dassin’s song will intrigue anyone, so you need to see the legendary garden with your own eyes. This extraordinary place amazingly brings together representatives of all generations on its territory: students, mothers with children, elderly people, athletes on a jog.

The park can safely be called a stunningly beautiful place. Only the French could create such splendor and skillfully maintain it for many years. When you get to its alleys, you simply don’t have time to admire the beauty of the architectural complexes, fountains, flower beds and palm trees. The Luxembourg Garden amazes not only with its beauty, but also with its cleanliness, despite the large number of visitors every day. It's truly impossible not to love this amazing place. A beautiful garden puts you in a lyrical mood. It’s not for nothing that poets’ poems were born while walking along its alleys.

The Luxembourg Gardens are open to the public; entry to its territory is completely free, as is visiting all the sights. The only place that is currently impossible to get to is the Luxembourg Palace. The Senate is located in its building, and therefore entry to tourists and other visitors is closed. Once a month, excursions are organized, which can only be attended by appointment, which is done for safety reasons.

Instead of an afterword

The Luxembourg Gardens can be called one of the most romantic places in Paris. Shady alleys, ponds and fountains, stunning sculptures and a beautiful palace - all this is worth spending the whole day walking around, enjoying the beauty of the park.

There are many parks and gardens in Paris, and it is quite difficult to get around all of them if you do not live in this city for a long time. At the same time, you should definitely see at least two of them, the most famous and “atmospheric” - the Tuileries Garden and the Luxembourg Garden, which will be discussed in this article.

It is impossible to miss the Tuileries Garden - it is located in the very center of Paris, in the 1st arrondissement on the right bank of the Seine, opposite the Louvre. The Luxembourg Gardens are located in the 6th arrondissement on the left bank of the river in the heart of the Latin Quarter. Both the garden and the Latin Quarter are permeated with the same notorious “Parisian spirit” that we are accustomed to imagine from films and literary works. Climbing deeper into the Latin Quarter, you will be pleasantly surprised by the sharp decrease in the number of tourists around, and on many streets on a weekday you will find yourself almost alone, except for the few local pensioners or mothers with strollers leisurely going about their business.

The Luxembourg Gardens are one of the oldest parks in Paris and the seat of the Senate. It was founded at the beginning of the 17th century - in 1612 - by the widow of the French king Henry (Henri) IV, Marie de' Medici. After the murder of her husband in 1610 by a religious fanatic, the Medici until 1617 was actually the acting king, that is, the regent, until the heir reached adulthood. Actually, the short and far from cloudless reign of Marie de Medici is inscribed in French history precisely thanks to the construction of the Luxembourg Palace and the creation of an elegant garden around it on an area of ​​23 hectares.

Today, the Luxembourg Gardens is a favorite walking place for Parisians, young and old, who affectionately call it “Luco” with the emphasis on the last syllable. Moreover, it is good at any time of the year: in winter under the snow, in early spring, when the trees are covered with soft green foliage, in autumn when decorated with bright fading leaves and, of course, in summer, when its spreading trees help townspeople survive the heat.

Unlike the more “central” and dynamic Tuileries Garden, a walk through the Luxembourg Gardens immerses you in contemplation and awakens a slight melancholy. It is not for nothing that the great Parisians loved to walk in this park - Denis Diderot and Voltaire; Victor Hugo and Jean-Paul Sartre, William Faulkner and Milan Kundera mentioned the Luxembourg Gardens in their works. Its alleys were painted by Delacroix and Van Gogh, and filmed by film directors Roman Polanski, Jean-Luc Godard and many others.

The Luxembourg Gardens are full of attractions:

- Luxembourg Palace, where the upper house of the French parliament, the Senate, sits, as well as the so-called “Little Palace” - the residence of the head of the Senate;

- Museum in the Luxembourg Gardens(located in one wing of the palace). Information about . Access to the museum and the Senate is from Rue Vaugirard;

- Greenhouse, built in 1839. In the greenhouses and greenhouses of the Luxembourg Gardens, about 180 species of plants are cultivated, including tropical ones, which decorate the territory of the palace and park. In summer you can visit its halls and see temporary exhibitions, for example, a collection of orchids.

The territory of the Luxembourg Gardens is divided into “French”, that is, made in the French style, and “English”. In the middle of neat alleys with trimmed trees and planted flowers are:

Fountains, the oldest and most elegant of which is Fountain of Marie de Medici 1630 in one of the corners of the garden;

- 106 sculptures throughout the area, many of which feature works by renowned artists. These are figures of historical characters, heroes of ancient Greek myths, animals, etc.

On the territory of the Luxembourg Gardens there is a lot of entertainment for adults and children: tennis and basketball courts, a carousel, a pony ride, an ancient puppet theater "Guignol" (French Parsley). Children constantly launch boats in the main and largest body of water in the Grand Bassin garden, opposite the Luxembourg Palace - this entertainment dates back to the last century. It is not necessary to bring boats with you, but can be rented here.

How to get to the Luxembourg Gardens:

By train RER, line B, stop Luxemburg (closest to the entrance to the garden);

By metro lines M4 (Vavin or Saint-Sulpice stations) and M12 (Notre-Dam-des-Champs station);

Buses 21,27, 38, 58, 82, 83, 84, 85, 89, RATR.

It is quite possible to reach the Luxembourg Gardens on foot, for example, from Notre Dame, crossing one of the bridges to the left bank of the Seine River. If you don’t want to go too deep into the streets of the Latin Quarter, then the Boulevard Saint-Michel leads directly to the Luxembourg Gardens from Notre Dame (you can get there by crossing the Pont Saint-Michel).

On the left bank of Paris there is a special atmosphere of true French flavor. Every pebble and every brick here is imbued with notes of Parisian romance. One look at the cozy cafes, magnificent gardens, ancient cathedrals and the smiles of the townspeople is enough to get into the local mood. And in the center of all this splendor, called the “Latin Quarter”, is the beautiful park “Luxembourg Gardens” (Jardin du Luxembourg). This […]

On the left bank of Paris there is a special atmosphere of true French flavor. Every pebble and every brick here is imbued with notes of Parisian romance. One look at the cozy cafes, magnificent, old ones and the smiles of the townspeople is enough to get into the local mood. And in the center of all this splendor, called the “Latin Quarter”, there is a beautiful park “ Luxembourg Gardens» (Jardin du Luxembourg).

This place is thoroughly imbued with poetry and the unique energy of the left bank. You can get here on foot along Boulevard San Michele. Or take the metro, getting off at Luxembourg station. Hidden behind a high forged fence, the garden occupies about twenty-six hectares.

In the center of the park is the Palace of Marie de' Medici or Luxembourg Palace. Art exhibitions are periodically held here, admission to which is free.

The most beautiful and romantic fountain in Paris is also located in the Luxembourg Gardens. Here you will see the first version of the famous American Statue of Liberty.

There are many magnificent statues in the park. For example, Mary Stuart statue, which is not so easy to find, although it is famous throughout the world thanks to the poets who sang it in poetry.

The park area is very large and is divided into two parts: the central part in front of the palace and numerous alleys with clearings, benches, gazebos, passages, sculptures and cafes.

Luxembourg Gardens- This is the most beautiful and interesting place to spend leisure time in Paris. Here you can sit comfortably in a cafe and order a fragrant baguette or croissant for breakfast. If you're an active person, you'll love the tennis courts or basketball courts. Here you can also ride on a carousel, in an old carriage or on a horse.

You can't visit Paris without visiting the Luxembourg Gardens...

Boulevard Saint-Michel, 75005 Paris, France

Take the metro to Odéon station

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The famous palace and park complex, located on 26 hectares in the Latin Quarter, owes its appearance to Marie de Medici, the widow of the French king Henry IV. Italian by birth, she ordered the construction of a country palace, like two peas in a pod, where the queen was born and raised.

In 1611, around the palace, whose architectural design combines Renaissance and Baroque, a park was laid out in a strictly geometric order, with terraces and flower beds in the French style, and later a park area in the English style was laid out. The decoration of the Luxembourg Gardens, in addition to the palace, in which the French Senate now meets and the National Museum operates, are three fountains, including the Marie de Medici fountain in the Baroque style, numerous marble sculptures, skillfully trimmed trees, manicured lawns and incredibly beautiful flower beds. Palm trees are lined up everywhere right in huge tubs - these heat-loving plants are transferred to the Greenhouse for the winter.

Surrounded by a high wrought-iron fence, the Luxembourg Gardens are a great place for a stroll. And it is good at any time of the year or day - quiet, spacious, romantic. Here you can wander for hours, admiring the views, looking at the monument to Marie de Medici or the 2-meter Statue of Liberty, the fourth in a row, and other equally magnificent creations of famous sculptors. Or you can take a chair from the large octagonal fountain and go with it to any corner of the garden - to relax or read a book. Bright green lawns seem designed for lying on the grass on a hot summer day or having a modest, quiet picnic - this is par for the course for Paris.

However, the garden has all the conditions for active recreation: many sports and playgrounds, tennis courts, carousels for children. Ponies and donkeys run along the alleys and carriages ride. The music pavilion regularly hosts concerts and exhibitions. The Theater of Miniatures is open. And along the water surface of the large fountain you can launch models of sailboats. There are cafes nearby where you can enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine in the open air.

Helpful information

Where is

The address of the Luxembourg Gardens (original name - Jardin du Luxembourg) is as follows: Rue de Vaugirard, Boulevard St. Michel, Rue Auguste-Comte and Rue Guynemer, Paris, France.

How to get to the Luxembourg Gardens

You can walk to the Luxembourg Gardens at the end of Boulevard San Michel. Or take the metro to the station and Odeon, or take the RER train to the Luxembourg station. City buses No. 21, 27, 38, 58, 82, 83, 84, 85 and 89 also run here.

Opening hours of the Luxembourg Gardens

From November to March, the Garden receives visitors from 8:15 to 16:45. From April to October - from 7:30 to 21:45. And only on Mondays - until 17:00. Opening hours also depend on the season and the work of the Senate.

Entrance fee

Entry to the Luxembourg Gardens is free.

Helpful information

After relaxing in the silence of the Luxembourg Park, you can go for other vivid impressions and emotions - for example, to the Louvre, which the garden abuts. From here it is not far to other famous places in Paris - the Invalides' Home, the Eiffel Tower or the Zadkine Museum.