Jardin du Luxembourg
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Jardin du Luxembourg (familiar nickname Luco) is a 224,500 m² public park and the largest in the city located in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, France. Luxembourg is the garden of the French Senate, which is itself housed in the Luxembourg Palace.
The palace and gardens were built by architect Salomon de Brosse for Marie de' Medici from 1615 to 1627.
The gardens include a large, fenced-in playground that's very popular with local younger children and their parents and adjacent to it there's an excellent puppet theatre and a merry-go-round. On occasion, pony rides are also available. In addition, free musical performances are presented in a gazebo on the grounds and there's an anonymous, inexpensive restaurant nearby, under the trees, with both indoor and outdoor seating from which you can enjoy the music over a glass of wine.
The garden is enjoyable for its calm. On the little pond children play with miniature boats. The garden contains various statues and sculptures. Surrounding the pond are a series of statues of former French queens. The École nationale supérieure des Mines de Paris and the Odéon theatre stand next to the Luxembourg Garden.
Opening hours depend on the month: opening between 7:30 and 8:15 am; closing between 4:45 and 9:45 pm.
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[edit] Trivia
- On December 7, 1815, Marshal of France Michel Ney was executed here by firing squad after having been convicted on a charge of treason for joining Napoléon Bonaparte during the Hundred Days.
- There is also a painting by Henri Matisse entitled Luxembourg Gardens. It was stolen during an armed robbery of the Chacara do Ceu museum where it was housed.
- The Luxembourg Garden (and its boat lake) features prominently in the French in Action instructional television series.
- Features in the classic children's picture book Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans.
- The garden is where Marius meets Jean Valjean and Cosette in Les Misérables.
[edit] Images
[edit] External links
- The Jardin du Luxembourg - Current and old photographs of the garden, statues, fountains
- The Luxembourg Gardens at Twilight - One of a series of paintings featuring the gardens by American (b. Italy) artist John Singer Sargent
[edit] See also
| Popular visitor attractions in Paris |  |
|---|---|
| Arc de Triomphe • Cathedral of Notre Dame • Centre Georges Pompidou • Champs-Élysées • Conciergerie • Eiffel Tower • Grand Palais • Jardin du Luxembourg • Les Invalides • Louvre • Musée d'Orsay • Opéra Garnier • Père Lachaise Cemetery |
