We owe the pleasure of walking down the Luxembourg Gardens to Marie de Medici, who commissioned them over 400 years ago. As the daughter of Tuscany s duke, she wanted to take a piece of home with her to France, and so the park was modeled after the Boboli Gardens of Florence.
Today, the Luxembourg Gardens are located at the edge of the Latin quarters and Saint-Germain-des-Prés.As you walk around the Luxembourg Gardens, don t forget that this is where the main event of the love story in “Les Misérables”, by Victor Hugo, takes place.
They have been divided into two sections (the French and the English gardens), separated by a forest and a large pond. The Luxembourg Palace no longer has kings to house, so it is now used as the residence of the French Senate.
You will find a garden of fruit trees here, with its old apple trees, as well as greenhouses with the most spectacular orchids, and a rose garden (well mantained with garden tools). The lanes are guarded by 106 statues of important individuals and ancients gods.
The Luxembourg gardens are entrance free; the lush grass is perfect for a picnic; there are benches and chairs to rest on. In the lake you can float toy sailboats, or remote control motor boats.
The gardens often host photo exhibitions and outdoor concerts.
As you walk around the Luxembourg Gardens, don t forget that this is where the main event of the love story in “Les Misérables”, by Victor Hugo, takes place. The lanes may introduce you to your very own Marius or Cosette…
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