Jardin du Luxembourg

Well hello, it's been a while! Between French classes and work and weekend outings I haven't had a second to blog! It's been so nice these past few weekends that I have spent my weekends wandering around and wasting the days away in this beautiful city! One of my favorite places is Jardin du Luxembourg. It has been a staple in my running route, as I incorporate it in every run. Although the winter months don't allow for flowers, the paths were still beautiful and it was great for people watching. However, the park is now in spring mode with all the flowers in bloom.

Pretty Park Flowers

In 1610 Queen Marie de Medici purchased the land to build a garden and palace for a new residence after the death of her husband. Her new residence, the Palais du Luxembourg and its surrounding gardens were modeled after the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens in Florence, where she spent her childhood. She commissioned the architect, Salomon de Brosse, to design the Palace and it was completed 16 years later. Although the two have some decorative similarities de Brosse did not replicate the Pitti Palace exactly as the palace plan is French. This mix of the two styles creates an architectural transition piece between the Renaissance and classical period. The gardens, which were inspired by the Boboli gardens in Florence were quite small, only 8 hectares, due to the Carthusians Monastery located nearby. However, over time the garden was expanded to its current size of 55.5 acres, making it the second largest park in Paris

Palais du Luxembourg peaking out behind flowers in bloom

In front of the Palace is the octagonal Grand Bassin pond. Jardin du Luxembourg is a very popular place for people to come and relax, with many chairs and benches available for reading, enjoying the sun and picnicking. One of the more popular places is the pond. Here the kids are able to rent toy wooden boats to sail as parents nearby. Anywhere around the pond is great as you either have a view of the Palace or the vast gardens that surround it. Here it is if you are in a little green oasis.

Boats sailing on the pond

Wandering through the park, you'll pass a plethora of statues. I never thought much of it until I found out there are 106 statues scattered throughout as well as the Medici Fountain! Queen Marie de Medici originally had a grotto designed for the garden. Many years and slight alterations later, it was moved and changed into a fountain. Today, a new facade and marble and bronze statue representing a Greek myth are at the forefront. Acis & Galatea lie under a rock on top of which stands Polyphemus who is preparing to throw a stone at his rival.

Medici Fountain

Jardin du Luxembourg is my favorite garden. I love running there on weekend mornings or just going to enjoy the day. As the weather gets nicer and the gardens fill in more, I am looking forward to spending a lot more time there enjoying Paris in the Spring time!