Description

Essentials about the Jardin du Luxembourg in brief

The Jardin du Luxembourg is one of the most popular and beautiful parks in the center of Paris. The park, which is now open to the public, was formerly the garden of the royal palace of the same name, Palais du Luxembourg, where the Senate (the upper house) of the French Parliament now meets. The Jardin du Luxembourg is extremely popular with Parisians and tourists alike – not only for its scenic design, but also for its countless recreational opportunities. From riding carousels and pony rides to playing basketball, chess and tennis, the Jardin offers its visitors a variety of attractions.

The grounds of the Jardin du Luxembourg

The 26-hectare park is divided into two areas: Surrounding the palace is a classical French garden with a strictly geometric layout. To the west and southwest is a more freely designed English landscape garden. The Jardin du Luxembourg was laid out at the beginning of the 17th century by order of Maria de Medici, the widow of King Henry IV, for her country palace that was being built. The inspiration for the garden came from the Boboli Gardens in Maria’s hometown of Florence. Although the garden has undergone major changes over the centuries, it still retains a certain Italian flair.

The attractions in the Jardin du Luxembourg

The garden is particularly popular with Parisian families and students from the universities in the surrounding Latin Quarter, as it offers a wide range of leisure and sporting activities. For the younger ones, there is a puppet theater, a carousel, ponies for riding and carriage rides, and an adventure playground. For the older ones there are tennis and basketball courts, a covered chess playground and a boulodrome. In front of the palace’s garden facade is a water basin where traditionally homemade or rented model boats chug around. And the Jardin du Luxembourg even has a beekeeping school with an accompanying orchard. Anyone strolling through the park will also inevitably pass one of the more than 100 statues scattered around the park.

Website

de.parisinfo.com/Jardin-du-Luxembourg

Öffnungszeiten

Depending on the season opening between 7:30 am and 8:15 am and closing between 4:30 pm and 9:30 pm.

Admission fees

None.

Address

Getting there

By public transport:

Métro lines 4 and 10: Stop Odéon

RER line B: Stop Luxembourg

Bus lines 58, 84 and 89: Stops Musée du Luxembourg and Sénat

Bus lines 21, 27, 38, 82, 84, 89, N14, N21 and N122: Stop Luxembourg

Bus lines 38, 82, N14 and N21: Stop Auguste Comte

Bus lines 58, 82 and 83: Stop Guynemer – Vavin

By car:

Around the Jardin du Luxembourg there are a number of parking garages.