Jardin+du+Luxembourg

Jardin du Luxembourg (Garden of Luxembourg), or the “Luco” as locals call it, is a beautiful garden in the Latin quarter of Paris. The gardens were created in 1612 on the orders of Marie de Medici, the widow of King Henry IV of France. When she began construction of a new palace that reminded her of one in her native Florence, she commissioned gardeners to create a place that she remembered as a child, Boboli Gardens.

Over the years, the garden was neglected. Eventually the garden came back to life, and although the garden grew to over 40 hectares at one time, reconstruction of Paris cut off hectares at a time and the creation of new streets around the city eventually forced the Medici Fountain to be moved to its current location. Ornamental gates and fenced have also been added.

These popular gardens currently cover between 23 & 25 hectares of land and are split into French gardens and English gardens. In the center is a geometric forest and a large pond which is surrounded by 106 statues and trees in pots. The emerald lawns are very symmetrical and are surrounded by borders that are filled with gravel paths, clipped hedges, bedding plants, more trees and more statues. There is also a model of the Statue of Liberty on the property. The southern part of the garden has an English style with an orchard that contains ancient and forgotten varieties of apples.

Several buildings are found throughout the Luco, and many activities and events are organized for families and children to enjoy uch as puppet shows, slides, a play area and pony rides. Adults can spend time here playing chess, tennis, and bridge or even using remote control boats. There are also free photography exhibitions on the garden railings and by concerts in the bandstand.

Jardin du Luxembourg gardens are a wonderful place to relax when in Paris. Seats are scattered throughout for visitors to sit and enjoy the beauty of the gardens. It’s a popular place for picnics and a great place to enjoy some greenery right in the heart of the city.