The Luxembourg Gardens are among the most popular park and recreation grounds in Paris. It offers many things to do; thus, any person visiting the French capital should consider it as a place to visit. It doesn’t matter how young or old one is, the specter of such allure can be found in the Luxembourg gardens.
One of the magnificent and frequented gardens in Europe, the Luxembourg Gardens lie in the capital city of France that is Paris. Every day thousands of travelers prefer to take a walk in these beautiful gardens, which offer a leisure from the city life. Last but not the least the gardens are again a right place which can be utilized to the maximum for spending time and enjoying the nature. That’s why the Luxembourg Gardens have trimmed lawns, neat flower borders, and trees providing nice alleys. There are many places to relax on the territory, and visitors can see lots of metal chairs and benches for those who want to sit and enjoy the view. Thus the gardens are not only ornamental but also an opportunity to spend time in the beautiful and serene area.
The History of Luxembourg Gardens.
The Luxembourg Gardens along with the adjoining palace were being developed in the very start of the 17th century by queen Marie de Médicis. It is said that she wanted to have something like the Boboli Gardens in the city of her origin that is Florence. The gardens were started originally with a little area in from of the palace and a small fountain. By extension, the gardens had grown in size, tamaño to their largest in 1792.The gardens, originally had the simple aim of being a space to walk around, but as seen by the expansion over time though it could have been expanded for many other noble purposes. Different owners incorporated different features into the gardens but the gardens are now abandoned. Some important facts that are connected to the history of the building: During the French Revolution, the very palace became the prison.
Later on many years, the palace was transformed into military use for the German army during the second world war; the army built a bunker in the palace compound gardens. The central pond of the gardens was introduced in the XIX century, at the order of Rinard Haussman to increase the modernity of the town. Nevertheless, this process changed a considerable part of the gardens: they were replaced by wide avenues for leisure and recreation of Parisians.
Touring the Luxembourg Gardens
Regarding the geographical variety for the tourist to observe, one could state that the Luxembourg Gardens offer various types of landscapes. There are areas of vegetable production, what Near French style gardens, and a ‘forest’ with large trees, and thickets of shrubs. The kiosks imbedded in the context of the gardens can be used as the rest areas and the place where visitors can have a snack. There are also those special zones where people practice bee Rei, and there are vast territories where greenhouses are located. If desired the visiting child can be entertained by a merry-go-round that was in the 19th century, or maybe a puppet booth. They can also ‘ride’ a pony or a donkey as well as control a mini boat at the pond.
There are more than 20 statues in the garden all of the statues are of queens of France, and some other distinguished personalities and animals are also depicted. Among them it is possible to distinguish the group telling the story of Polyphemus, Acis and Galatea. The only authentic garden element that you will find is the Medici Fountain and one should not fail to visit it. This fountain with a pond around it and the columns is an ideal location for a perfect shot. But I think the most spectacular view is central pond; however the rose garden and the orchid collection which numbers ten thousand flowers are significant. Tennis courts and areas for other sports, such as chess as well as pétanque are also available in the Luxembourg Gardens.
First Impression and the Entrance Impact
Decorated with beautiful flower gardens and having a large entrance that leads to the main hall, one can begin to feel the beauty in the gardens. The first pathways are adorned with status and rich vegetation, so the guests will feel comfortable. The entrance to the Luxembourg Gardens is just sensational. First thing that is noticeable when one enters the gates is that the place is designed with tendencies of exquisiteness accompanied with serenity. The outstanding paths are wide with tall trees along the sides making one want to go further in the garden and apart from the trees, there are beautiful flower arrangements that will make almost any color combination one can think of depending on the season. Terrace, statues and fountains are built neatly along the pathways making the beauty and the artistry of statues a part of the path’s décor.
This entrance area is one of the most suitable places for a stroll as they offer multiple photo opportunities that depict Paris nobility.
Functions of the Central Pond and It’s amenity.
The area of the gardens contains the well-known central pond. There are many activities that tourists enjoy, one that is common among families is taking a sail boat and going round the pond. The pond is well decorated by flower gardens and several artistic sculptures and is a major area preferred for leisure and photography. The shooting location of the movie ‘Midnight in Paris’ is right in the Luxembourg Gardens that has a central pond where people from all different types of lifestyle throng to. This is a large calm and plain water body not only a good view to embrace but also full of life. Small colourful sailing boats for rent are considered a tradition and are likely to rent them for children as well. It is a delight to watch boat with movements on the water as well as the flowered gardens and sculptures enhance the charm of the site.
Benches and seating areas all around the pond makes it an ideal place to lay back and read a book or watch people passing by. This area gets especially busy when the sun is out and the water and flowers seem to glow as if magical.
The Queen’s Statue Collection
Among the beautiful statues that line the gardens there are statues of French queens and other historical personalities. Every statue has its plaque with historical information, so having sculptural images as historical sources allows France to get a view of its royal history. This area is best for the tourists to mention the phrase ‘history and beauty’ in the same breath while moving around the area. The collection of statues of the Queen in the Luxembourg Gardens is special and beautiful, making the locality royal. During the beautiful nature walks, visitors will be privilege to see sculpture of different queens of France, which are well carved and have royal blessing. Such sculptures are followed by panels that offer brief background concerning such royal personalities. This collection gives a great view on the French history and lets people value the richness of the culture and history of this country admiring the beauty of the gardens at the same time.
The Medici Fountain
Here the Absolute Must-see is the Medici Fountain. It is taking care of its pond and multilateral designs for this reason, it is photographed among the gardens. Its font area is covered and a good place to sit during the heat since the area under the provision of shades is relatively warmer than the surroundings. The Medici Fountain is a treasure of the Luxembourg Gardens. This is one of the beautiful fountains ever built and this was assigned by Marie de Médicis. The youth is depicted as being surrounded by trees, the water and excess greenely which give it a lonely look. For artwork, the numerous statues that create the fountain with water gurgling down are possibly an amazing creation. People stroll and loiter around in this area to marvel at the beautiful work done and to capture moments for pictures.
The fountain is surrounded by a concrete circle that has a roof to give shade, normally people go there particularly during the hot afternoon. One of the favorite locations for that is the seating nearby the water and in the centre of the park – it has the sound of the running water nearby and the green surroundings.
Decorations of The Rose Garden and Orchids
Overhead the rose garden and the collection of orchids can be viewed; the smells and sounds to be enjoyed by those who take a slightly deviated route off the main walking ways. A lot of colors and it smells fragrant especially when it is on blooms. Featuring over 10000 flowers, this part of the garden is definitely oases for all flower lovers. Obviously, the Rose Garden and Orchid Collection in the Luxembourg Gardens are lover’s delight particularly for a horticulturist. This part of the gardens is well taken care of and there are many lines of roses and exotic labelled orchids. These flowers in full bloom are a pleasant sight and have very pleasing fragrance about them. Taking a walk through the rose garden, you will literally be waring round the flowers of varying colors and undoubtedly, the appealing smell of roses.
The orchids collection is also quite rich, and many species and hybrids become part of the presented collection. This area is specifically devoted to flowers and lots of variety can be found here for photography lovers. From one angle you are already a gardener or just a flower lover, the Rose Garden and Orchid Collection will surely melt your heart.
The Children’s Area
To families, many activities are available for the kids in the children’s section, making the place even more attractive. Merry-go-round is the favorite among children as it is reminiscent of the 19th century but they are offered on certain days only and the closed puppet theater presents shows. Other activities that enhance this area’s attractiveness include pony and donkey to provide additional incentives to children, thus making this section to be exciting for the kids. Le Jardin du Luxembourg also has a Children’s Area, which children love to play in. Critique: This particular part of the gardens contains a lot of things to do and interesting sights that children of all ages will certainly enjoy. The 19th-century merry-go-round is no less beautiful with painted horses and carriages that seem they are taken right out from fairy-tales.
Working on certain days of the week the puppet theater provides quite fascinating shows that can inspire young children. Horse and donkey carriages as a sort of entertainments add the flavor of thrill and spice up the holiday. There is thus a specified Children’s Area that is colourful and appealing to children but at the same time secure and containing chairs for the parents to sit as their children play. This is a perfect place where by families can spend a delightful afternoon in the campaign.
A walk in the direction of the gardens, from where the tour started helps in viewing the green house and the bee keeping section. The green houses accommodate many new species of plants and flowers and the honey and bee farming section enlightens the public about bees. This area of parl is educational apart from the aesthetic sense of the gardens. The Greenhouses and Beekeeping Area in the Luxembourg Gardens are two places which are rather unknown but beautiful and informative at the same time. Several of the green houses have grown different types of exotic plants and flowers making the place to seem like a hot house of the gardens. Strolling through the greenhouses, one will meet a numerous representation of the plants of the world, which feel like in the heaven in the special climate they are provided with.
The beekeeping area is equally interesting, which gives information about bees and honey processing. H) educational information and touch activities enhance the visitor’s understanding of the importance of bees in the ecosystem. This region’s attractiveness is not only in its views but also in gaining new information, so it is interesting for lovers of nature, environmental protection, and clean water.Tennis Courts and game areas can be in the basement area or in a separate structure depending on the layout of the entire compound.
Hobby lovers can get the workouts in fields such as tennis, and there is also the provision of grounds for games like chess and pétanque. Such amenities are perfectly clean and allow arranging various kinds of recreation in the territory of such sciences, surrounded by calmness. The Tennis Courts and Game Areas in the Luxembourg Gardens will allow visitors actively spend time and enjoy the view at the same time. There are also well maintained tennis for those who just want to play casually and for a professional match. For those who like a more leisurely experience the gardens also have specific locations for the games as chess and pétanque.
These game areas have the tables and chair where people can sit down and enjoy their companies while practicing their talents on games.This way, the sports facilities and the scenery complement one another and satisfy the various needs of the visitors, regardless of the level of physical engagement.
Seasonal Highlights and Events
Some of the important events held at the Luxembourg Gardens are also interesting and hold reason for a visit there.
Spring Blooms
Autumn is maybe the coziest season in the gardens, but spring is definitely the most stunning one. There are all sorts of flowers and they all bloom to create true spectacles of all the shades. This is a time of appreciating gardens and flowers where special events and flower shows can be arranged and many people go there for gardening and photography among others. Spring in the Luxembourg Gardens is one of rebirth and elegance. Thus, during spring and summer, a number of gardens appear to be blooming with all sorts of colors. Tulips, daffodils and a great deal of other flowers comes to bloom and the scenes are hard to be described. Flower shows, fairs and other related activities take place especially in spring time and many people usually visit the garden & perform photography.
This interior design endeavors to provide elegance that every gaining corner in the gardens is decorated with careful and keen attention. From the above information, it is evident that spring is the best period in which one can visit Luxembourg Gardens naturally.
Summer Activities
During summer, operations are for longer hours and there are so many activities that may be offered. The long days also offer the visitors enough time in exploring the gardens. Night performances, art shows, and evening activities are not rare, so the gardens are rather active. Summer is very much active and warm in the Luxembourg Gardens. By this time of the year, there are longer hours of the day and people have more time to spend undertaking their favourite activities including visiting gardens. Depending on the location, spring is filled with various open-air programmes like concerts, art shows and evening festivities. The gardens also have large tracts of grasslands from where one can have a picnic, take an afternoon nap or just enjoy a leisurely walk.
Summer is also another favorable season to enjoy the sports such as tennis and other games facilities in the gardens. The lively ambiance and lot of things to do and see makes summer one of the best seasons to go to Luxembourg Gardens.
Autumn Colors
Speaking of what it looks like, during the autumn it looks beautiful, with the background painted in red, oranges and yellows. The yellowing leaves make it even more beautiful for photography and one could take a stroll around the park. Relatively, the autumn calendar also includes exhibitions related to the seasons and cultural events. Luxembourg Gardens’s autumn is a real picture, a harmony of color and perfection. This is another beauty of the gardens; with the seasons changing from autumn, the gardens turn into a different blend with reds, oranges and yellows. It is a wonderful sight to see and provides a great opportunity for photo shoots and walking in the fresh air. Autumn is also a time for gilt exhibitions of art and culture which make the gardens to be enticing and more attractive.
Regardless of jogging on the pathways of the Luxembourg Gardens, having a break near the pond or in the course of an event autumn in the Luxembourg Gardens not to be forgotten.
Winter Tranquility
Another beauty with winter is that most of the gardens are calm and quiet. From here on the crowds disperse and it has a very serene tone during the evening when the gardens are closed to the public. Of course, the flowers are less and the bushes are nude, but the frost or light snow adds to the beauty of the gardens. The special activities related to the holiday season may also be looked at in terms of the access secured to them or other amenities that come with the holiday season. Winter is a quiet and somewhat meditative time in the Luxembourg Gardens. The attraction of the gardens, of course, is with people, thus empty gardens are rather quiet and calm. The trees with no leaves and tracks that are covered with frost present an interesting and aesthetically appealing scenery.
Despite having relatively fewer flowers, the gardens retain the look of natural landscapes therefore not being paste like. The garden usually receives some beautification during the holidays which could include; events and decorations, thus becomes festive during the holiday season. Luxembourg gardens are exquisite all year round but the serene charm inherent in the pictures is perfect for the winter season.
Practical Information for Visiting
Must try this To make the most of your visit to the Luxembourg Gardens :
Pack a Picnic: ‘The gardens are nice and perfect for having a picnic in’. It will be advisable to carry along some French foods and spices and have a meal in the beautiful sceneries that nature provides.
Wear Comfortable Shoes: The gardens are incredibly vast, and to be able to cover the entire garden area, soft soled shoes should be put on.
Check the Weather: Though the scenery of gardens is lovely under any weather, those specific activities for revel may be preferred in the sunshine.
Plan for Activities: Evidently, if the visitor wants to watch the puppet shows or any special exhibitions that are advertised be sure to catch the time to avoid missing them.
How to Get There
Regarding the accessibility, the Luxembourg Gardens can be approached with the help of the metro line 12 The Notre-Dame-des-Champs stop or the RER, line B The gardens can be easily accessed from any place by means of public transportation that makes them the acknowledged attraction both for the citizens and the guests of Paris. If one should wish to walk, then it should be known that the gardens are just a few steps away from several famous attractions in Paris and it would therefore fit well in a sightseeing tour schedule.
Accessibility and Facilities
Thus, the Luxembourg Gardens are as accessible as possible to all people; it has a paved territory for wheelchairs and ramps for those people that can’t walk a lot. Facilities such as rest rooms and drinking fountains are well provided for the common use by visitors who are within the garden area. The kiosks and cafes are located within the gardens which provide a lot of snacks, drinks, sandwiches and so on making it possible for one not to leave the place searching for a place to get food or drinks.
Conclusion
It must be understood that, the Luxembourg Gardens are not merely a park; on the historical and cultural front of Paris these gardens represent a portion . Starting from the regal palaces to the newly constructed modern castles, each one presents the rich heritage to each and every one of us. They are fitting for resting, studying, walking, and participating in any activity as they set the standard. It must be especially noted that it is highly recommended to go to the Luxembourg Gardens when a person travels to Paris. They are beautiful, historic, and can accommodate all varieties of activities and they are unique among wonders in a city of wonders. Therefore, do not rush, explore the paths, admire the flowers, and let the atmosphere of this famous Parisian attraction get you.
You will get the most out of your Paris trip visiting Luxembourg Gardens; the experience will remain with you time for eternity.
