Luxembourg Gardens, Paris, Bezoekersgids & wat te doen in de buurt

The Luxembourg Gardens are the most beloved park in Paris, 23 hectares of formal gardens, tree-lined promenades, and open lawns on the Left Bank, surrounding the Luxembourg Palace.

The gardens were created in 1612 by Marie de Medici, widow of King Henry IV, who commissioned both the palace and the Italianate garden to remind her of the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens in her native Florence. The design was later modified by Andre Le Notre (who also designed Versailles) and has evolved over the centuries into a blend of French formal and English landscape styles.

The central octagonal basin and its surrounding terrace are one of the most iconic spots in Paris. Children have been sailing miniature boats here since the 19th century, and you can still rent model sailboats by the hour. There are also pony rides, a puppet theatre (Theatre du Luxembourg, running since 1933), a playground, and 106 statues throughout the gardens.

The Medici Fountain, in the northeastern corner, is the park's most romantic spot: a Baroque grotto fountain built in 1630, with a long reflecting pool shaded by plane trees.

The gardens are free and open daily, with hours varying by season. If you're on a Questo quest through the Left Bank, the Luxembourg Gardens are a stop where a Florentine queen's homesickness created one of the most perfect green spaces in Europe.