The Luxembourg Gardens (Paris 6th) are open daily, from 7:30-8:15am until 4:30-9:45pm depending on the season; free entry, RER B Luxembourg or metro Odéon. In the 6th arrondissement of Paris, you'll discover the famous Luxembourg Gardens. It was Queen Marie de' Medici who requested that this garden be created to accompany the Luxembourg Palace. The 23-hectare Luxembourg Gardens were thus created in 1612. They now belong to the French Senate.
Highlights
The Promenade
Largely inspired by Florence's Boboli Gardens, the Luxembourg Gardens are divided into two parts: one French-style, the other English-style. Between them lies a geometric grove and a large pond. During your stroll you'll come across an orchard with different varieties of apples, a beehive, orchids, a rose garden... There are also regular activities for children: puppet shows on Wednesdays and weekends starting at 2pm, not to mention pony rides, swings, and slides.
The Orangery
In the western part of the garden, you'll find the Orangery. Dating back to 1839, it houses 180 potted plants, including 60 citrus trees, as well as date palms, oleanders, and bitter orange trees.
The Luxembourg Palace
Built in 1625 by Salomon de Brosse, the Luxembourg Palace once housed the royal family. It was turned into a prison during the Revolution. In 1800, Napoleon Bonaparte had the building renovated and installed his senators there. Today, and since 1958, the Senate has been based there once again: this is where senators meet in "committees" to review bills. Tours are generally organized on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays: the assembly hall and the Salle des Pas Perdus are simply breathtaking!
Practical info
Tips
- The Luxembourg Gardens are also a favorite meeting spot for couples. Come here for a romantic outing, wander through the green spaces, relax on the chairs around the pond... utterly romantic! Next door, the Musée du Luxembourg hosts temporary exhibitions and the Panthéon is a few minutes' walk away. South-east of the garden, the Val-de-Grâce and its cloister offer a quieter pause than the Luxembourg. A few minutes' walk away, the Church of Saint-Sulpice holds frescoes by Eugène Delacroix and is free to visit. The Luxembourg Palace, seat of the Senate, opens to the public only during the European Heritage Days in September; the rest of the year, you admire it from the garden.
How to get there
Located in the Latin Quarter, you can reach the Luxembourg Gardens by metro via the Odéon station (line 4), or by bus via lines 21, 27, 38, 58, 82, 83, 84, 85, and 89. RER B also has a nearby station, called Luxembourg.
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