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The former royal palace with Florentine echoes has been the seat of the Sénat since 1958. It is surrounded by one of the largest gardens in the capital (25ha). The principal of the public garden, distinct from the princely garden, which the goodness of its owners left for the use of the people only won acceptance at the end of the Second Empire. The actual enjoyment was not left to the hoi polloi until the Count of Provence (the future Louis XVIII) became the owner of the Luxembourg Palace. For a modest entrance fee it was possible to go and quench your thirst and taste fruit harvested from the orchard. It has a large number of monuments and statues. The Medici statue is surmounted with a pediment bearing the queen's arms; it is probably a work of Salonmon de Brosse built in the style of Italian grottos. While taking the direction of the large artificial pond, do not miss the 'merchant of masks' by Zacharie Astruc (1883), the base of which is surrounded by masks of Corot, Dumas, Carpeaux, Fauré, Delacroix, Balzac and Barbier d'Aurevilly. The Luxembourg gardens were much frequented by residents of the area and loved by the writers: Baudelaire, Lamartine, Musset, Verlaine, Victor Hugo, George Sand, Balzac, Hemingway and Sartre.
Collection : Sculpture, Merry-go-rounds, Green plants
17th century, 18th century, 19th century, 16th century
Opening days and times
Open/Closed : Walking on the grass is forbidden, as is cycling and playing ball. The games area (all paying) are grouped in the shade of the plane trees between the French garden and the rue Guyenemer.
Opens between 7.15am and 8.15am.
Closes between 2.45m and 9.30pm according to season.
Open on those public holidays : Easter, Easter Monday, 1 May, 8 May, Ascension Day, Whitsuntide, Whit Monday, 14 July, 15 August, 1 November, 11 November, 25 December
Services
Foreign language tours.
Educational activities : Nursery (2pm to 6pm) from May to mid-September for children of 18 months to 6 years. Recreational park (from 10am) for children from 7 to 12 years. Puppets: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 2pm. During the school holidays, every day from 4pm. Pony rides, swings, tennis, model yacht hire to sail in the large artificial pond.
Photos allowed.
Practical informations
Jardin du Luxembourg
Rue de Médicis Rue de Vaugirard 75006 PARIS
Métro : Odéon
RER : RER B: LUXEMBOURG
Bus : 21,27,38,58,82,83,84,85 ou 89
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