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Jardin du Luxembourg - The Luxembourg Gardens, Paris


When I daydream about being in Paris, and I do that a lot, I usually see myself sitting on one of those green metal chairs in front of the fountain in the Luxembourg Gardens.  Small children are setting sail to their rented sailboats, the vibrant fuchsia petunias are bursting out of the large, ornate planters, and the sound of gravel underneath the passersby is broken by the laughter of those sitting near me.

The Luxembourg Garden is my favorite place in Paris, a city filled with plenty of beautiful parks.  The garden was to surround the Palais du Luxembourg, the official residence of Marie de' Medici, the widow of King Henry IV of France, who purchased the land in 1612.  The Palace was built in the style of the Pitti Palace in Marie's native Florence.  She had two thousand elm trees planted in the series of gardens, added the Medici Fountain, and in 1630 purchased additional land, which increased her property to 74 acres from 19.  Today, following the massive renovations of Paris under Baron Haussmann which lasted from 1853 to 1870, the Luxembourg Garden went down to 60 acres.  The Palace is now home to the Senate.



The photos in this post have been taken over the course of a few years, and during different seasons.  It's really a treat to see the flowers bloom and change with each season, the chestnuts brown and eventually fall to the ground, and the leaves turn rusty. 





This stunning oasis in the bustling Sixth Arrondissement provides a perfect escape, a lovely place to relax and watch the world go by. 


A sailboat rental, which costs about 2 euro per half hour, is a huge attraction.  Kids can push the boats on the large octagonal pond called the Grand Basin.










The Medici fountain is a favorite photo spot for many visitors. 






     Whether staying in a hotel or an apartment, we love to spread out our breakfasts on the chairs or benches and enjoy the fresh air, and the serene environment; there is really nothing better.





Fall is a wonderful and very picturesque season in the garden.




There are plenty of activities in the garden; runners make a loop around the park


occasionally there are concerts in the large gazebo.



There are pony rides for the little ones.


Men enjoy a slow game of boules/petanque.


Tai-chi enthusiasts take over one area of the park, and the numerous tennis courts are usually packed by late afternoon.




The Luxembourg garden is filled with 106 statues of former French Queens, saints, and artists.

Frederic Chopin - 1899


Monument to Jean-Antoine Watteau - metal bust represents the painter Watteau and the marble figure of a woman represents Youth - 1896


Joys of the Family - 1885



Delacroix Monument - 1890




 The Greek Actor - 1868


 Monument to the students who perished during the Resistance - 1956
 

The Messenger, 1950 - sits in the middle of a beautiful rose and flower garden.






The southwestern part of the park is home to a bee keeping school!  Jean Pauchon, the head of the school, incidentally learned that bees could thrive in Paris after he stored a beehive on the roof of the Opera House some twenty years ago.  The bees flourished beautifully!



Two more buildings that are part of the Luxembourg Gardens are the Luxembourg Museum, which houses small temporary exhibitions,

and the Orangerie, where the plants are stored during the cold season and artwork is exhibited during the warm months.


While in Paris, I typically spring out of bed at ridiculously early hours, and have the park all to myself.





Jardin du Luxembourg
rue de Vaugirard
Opens between 7:30am - 8:15am
and closes between 4:30pm and 9:30pm - according to season.

Joanna


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