The Jardin du Luxembourg (often called simply “Luco” by Parisians) is a 224,500 m² public park, the largest in Paris. If you're looking for a little quiet serenity, the Luxembourg Gardens (Jardin du Luxembourg) is a good place to start.
This large park, overflowing with flowers and made up of impeccable lawns, always delights visitors with its harmonious paths, beautiful flowers and statues. The park is accessible to a great many apartments in Paris by foot. Generations of Parisian children have grown up in its shade. Children can rent boats and sail in the crystal ponds while the elders play chess under awnings. Les Guignols in Théâtre de Marionnettes entertain adults and children with shows every week.
Located in the 6th arrondissement, the Luxembourg Garden is more sheltered than many of the other central Parisian parks, as you will see when renting from many available Paris vacation apartments. The many trees planted at its edges make the park feel further from the street than it actually is. Adjacent to many areas, no trip to the Left Bank would be complete without a walk to the gardens.
It should also be said that although the Eiffel Tower may rightly be considered the most recognizable symbol of Paris, true Parisian life may said to occur in these 25 hectares of green oasis. The 60 acres (21 hectares) of green spaces around Palais du Luxembourg were opened to the public around 1780. Beautifully adorned with statues and a grand basin, Jardin du Luxembourg has a quite formal layout with perpendicular alleys. Choose your Paris apartment rental Luxembourg garden and you can see it all with the ease of a Parisian. You will also see the Palais du Luxembourg, set in the center of these 59 acres of manicured lawns and trees, fountains and paths.
Palais du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Palace), the focal point of Paris’ largest public park, was built between 1615-1627for Marie de Medici, the widow of the murdered Henry IV. The architect Salomon de Brosse designed it as a Florentine palace to please her, as it is said she felt homesick and wanted to create a model of Palazzo Pitti on French land. For the decorations and the embellishments, Rubens paintings adorn the walls of the large gallery and the library has the masterpieces of Eugene Delacroix. Although it has been the seat of the French Senate since 1799, the palace has served multiple purposes over the years.
The surrounding garden is quite enjoyable for its calm. On the little pond children play with toy boats. The garden contains various statues and sculptures. There are many statues of the queens of France, including a figure of Saint Genevieve, the patron of Paris. The École nationale supérieure des Mines de Paris and the Odéon theatre are within walking distance.
The gardens also include a large fenced-in playground that is very popular with local young children and their parents. An excellent puppet theatre and a merry-go-round are adjacent. On occasion, pony rides are also available. In addition, free musical performances are presented in a gazebo on the grounds and there is an inexpensive restaurant nearby, under the trees, with both indoor and outdoor seating from which you can enjoy the music.
The garden is where Marius meets Jean Valjean and Cosette in Les Misérables. The bust of Henri Murger (1822-1861), is also here, best known as the author of Scènes de la Vie de Bohème, the book that inspired Puccini's (and Leoncavallo's) opera La Bohème. Look for a small size Statue of Liberty here, among nearly 200 other statues of every “who's who” in French history, artistic and literary circles.
Particularly during the summer months, the green park attracts many students and young persons from their own nearby furnished apartments paris, who come to play tennis or enjoy a relaxing stroll. From the Boulevard Saint-Michel entrance, a wonderful view of Tour Montparnasse can be seen. You will also find the Verger du Luxembourg, an orchard of 1,000 trees and 200 species of apple and pear trees, hand-tended today just as it had been for almost two centuries by the Carthusian Order. Built in the 19th century, the L'Orangerie du Luxembourg serves both as the Louvre's temporary exhibition place and as autumn and winter housing for the 180 orange trees, pomegranates, palm trees and rose laurels.
Truly, this is Paris life for centuries past and will continue to be Paris life in centuries to come. Open hours depend on the month: opening between 7:30 and 8:15 am; closing between 4:45 and 9:45 pm.
