Jardin du Luxembourg
The Jardin du Luxembourg, simply known even as the Luxembourg Gardens, is one of the most famous gardens within Paris. It is a large green zone, stretching across an area greater than 25 hectares. The garden was built back in the 1600s by Marie de Medicis. She was nostalgic about her childhood in Florence and wanted to recreate a garden that reminded her of the place she grew up knowing. Most of the final work on the gardens was done during the reconstruction era when the ornamental characteristics were added, most notably the geometric alleys and paths. The park was opened to the public a long time ago, and today stands as a favourite place for children and adults alike.
The Luxembourg Gardens have a lot of monumental features. Right at the heart of them lays the Bassin, a basin of water with an octagonal shape. Children storm the area to sail their model boats. Statues, some of which date back to when the garden was being built, surround the body of water. The statues are of queens and saints known by many, such as Saint Genevieve.
The park has many a time been described as serene and calming. Though one is not allowed to lie on the grass, chairs are provided if you want to sit, relax or picnic. A fenced playing area is specifically created for children who simply want to vent out their excess energy and have fun. For their entertainment, there are different kinds of activities to engage in, such as watching the puppet theatres, or taking rides on the merry go round. For the adults with a musical side, a gazebo is present where musical performances take place, and which you don’t have to pay for. You can bask in the shade of the trees as you take some wine as you are soothed by the live music in the small restaurant available. The perimeter of the Jardin du Luxembourg is lined with a trail which is perfect for taking a walk or a jog.
It’s hard to state out the exact number of monuments, fountains or sculptures spread throughout the garden. But you could easily point out those that generate the most interest. For instance, the Fountain of the Observatory located at the Southern end of the garden is iconic. It was brought to the garden back in 1867. The first model of the Statue of Liberty is also installed in the garden. A fountain, the Medici Fountain, built by Marie de’ Medici in 1630, makes one of the more romantic spots in the garden.
The Jardin du Luxembourg offers a lot of activities, and it promises to keep you interested the whole time you are there. It is exceptionally beautiful during the season of spring when the flowers bloom and bring a wave of colour to what is already a magnificent garden. Its provides something of a learning opportunity for those interested in the French history, together with impressive works of sculpture that are spread throughout the garden.