Jardins du Luxembourg, Paris

1 more image

The palace of Luxembourg is a very beautiful architectural unit and owes its name to the mansion belonging to François of Luxembourg which occupied the site in the 16th century. The estate was bought by Marie de Medici, regent of France.

Drawing inspiration from the Pitti palace in Florence she had a new palace build by architect Salomon de Brosse.
Marie de Medici settled there in 1625. She commissioned the large paintings by Rubens that one finds today in the Louvre museum. The right part of the palace was reserved for her whereas the left part was occupied by her son Louis XIII.
The queen mother did not benefit a long time from her beautiful palace of Luxembourg, in 1631 her son Louis XIII, tired of her interference in the businesses of the State and of her hostility to the Cardinal de Richelieu, throw his mother out following what is called in France the “Day of Dupes”. Marie de Medici was exiled.
The castle remained in the royal family until the revolution.

The old mansion called “Petit Luxembourg” became the residence of the president of the French Senate.
The “Grand Luxembourg” of Marie de Medici became the "Palais du Luxembourg" seat of the French Senate.
Visits of the Senate are organized for small groups and on reservation. 01.42.34.20 .60

It is said to be the oldest museum of Europe. Marie de Medici had two galleries of her palace arranged to accommodate the paintings of Rubens dedicated to her glory. The museum becomes public only in 1750. It was the first public museum of painting in France. About hundred exposed paintings came from the Cabinet of the King.
The public discovered Leonardo da Vinci, Raphaël, Rembrandt, Van Dyck. These paintings were later transferred to Le Louvre.
In 1818 the galleries of the palace became the Museum of the "alive artists" with works of David, Ingres, Delacroix.
In 1884 - 1886 the French Senate built the building which shelters the current museum. The Musée du Luxembourg received the Caillebotte legacy with paintings of Picasso, Pissaro, Bonnard, Degas, Gauguin, Renoir. They were exposed here until 1937, when the collections were transferred to the new museum from modern art, today museum of Orsay.

Since then the museum receives temporary exhibitions, especially of the Italian Renaissance in alternation with modern art.
The next exposure from March 25th to August 2nd, 2009 will show about sixty works of the Renaissance from Prato (Italy) mainly with the painters Filippo and Filippino Lippi.

Entrance fee 11 €. (Is rather expensive compared with an entry at Le Louvre for 9€).
No photos allowed.

==========================

Ce serait le plus ancien musée d'Europe. Marie de Médicis avait fait aménager deux galeries pour accueillir les tableaux de Rubens dédiés à sa gloire mais le musée ne devient public qu'en 1750. C'était le premier musée public de peinture en France.
La centaine de tableaux exposés provenait alors du Cabinet du Roi.
Le public découvrait Léonard de Vinci, Raphaël, Rembrandt, Van Dyck. Ces tableaux sont ensuite transférés au Louvre.
En 1818 les galeries du palais deviennent le Musée des artistes vivants avec des oeuvres de David, Ingres, Delacroix.
En 1884 - 1886 Le Sénat édifie le bâtiment qui abrite le musée actuel. Il reçoit le legs Caillebotte. Picasso,Pissaro, Bonnard, Degas, Gauguin, Renoir sont exposés jusqu’en 1937, date à laquelle les collections sont transférées au nouveau musée d’art moderne aujourd'hui musée d'Orsay.

Depuis lors le musée reçoit des expositions temporaires, surtout de la Renaissance italienne en alternance avec l'art moderne.
La prochaine exposition du 25 mars au 2 août 2009 concerne une soixantaine d'œuvres de la Renaissance à Prato (Italie) principalement Filippo et Filippino Lippi.
Prix d'entrée 11 €. (Ce qui tout de même assez cher comparé avec une entrée au Louvre à 9€).

The Medici fountain is one of the most important decorative elements of the Jardins du Luxembourg and probably the most romantic of them.
As said by the name this decorative monument, at the start a type of cave, goes back to Marie de Médicis (1630) became a fountain, got new sculptures added and was even moved in 1862 and received the present basin about 50 m long.
Because of the trees the site is in the shadow and the water of the basin is dark like a mercury mirror.
One can sit along the basin to read, chat, drink a soda or just dream.

At about 70 m to the south stands a kiosk with drinks and tables under the trees and in the separate basement toilets (pay 0,40 €).

We decided to go to St Germain des Pres, 6e, where one finds the Jardin du Luxembourg.

Our kids loved this place, although it would have been better if we went during the summer because there would have been a toy boat pond, pony rides and the puppet theater would be open. But we were content just walking around the massive pond…and then all of a sudden, it rained!

We scrambled/fumbled for our umbrellas which were still in our backpacks, couldn’t open them and just ran for cover – it was hilarious. We got wet but had so much fun.

And then our pictures came out so nice later with the kids holding their umbrellas in front of the palais du Luxembourg which was built by orders of Marie de Medici, the queen of King Henri IV. It is said that in Florence, a similar palace exists –the Palazzo Pitti, which was the childhood palace of the queen herself who was homesick.

I have also read that there is a Statue of Liberty somewhere in the park, but I always miss it! Next time…

3 more images

These beautiful gardens were created by order of Marie de Medicis back in 1612 and have become one of the most popular places in Paris to hang out on a sunny afternoon. Students often gather in the Jardins du Luxembourg to read and study, while children play by the fountain and workers stop by with a sandwich for lunch. The gardens are bordered by the beautiful Palais du Luxembourg, near rue Vaugirard, which was built for Queen Marie de Medicis and her son King Louis XIII, and which now houses the Senate. There are about 100 beautiful sculptures spread out through the French and English gardens, and one of the highlights of the gardens is the Fontaine de Medicis, once again built according to the plans of King Henry IV's widow.

The gardens are open from sunrise to sunset, admission is free, but remember to bring a few coins (20 p.) to use the public restrooms. A really great place for a nice picnic!

A beautiful garden just down he road from the Pantheon, one of the most loveliest. With area stretching 60 acres, its hard not to be pampered by its beautuful sculptures peppered all over the garden ....really a place to sit and relax after a long walk ...( this shold be included in your itineraty if you are visiting the Latin Quarter )

A Bit of History

The Luxembourg Palace was built for Marie de Medicis in the years 1615-1627. The architect Salomon de Brosse, designed it as a Florentine palace because Marie de Medicis liked this style. He was the son of Jean de Brosse, another architect and he inherited the position as the architect of Marie de Medicis from his uncle Jacques II Androuet Du Cerceau. (Other works by Salomon de Brosse include the aqueduct of Arcueil in 1624.)
For the decorations and the embellishments, Rubens paintings adorn the walls of the large gallery and the library has the masterpieces of Eugene Delacroix. The uses of the palace have changed multiple times. For example, it was a prison during the Revolution. It currently houses the Senate.

The gardens of Luxembourg surround the palace. This large park, which has sprawling lawns and abundant flowers, always astonishes its visitors with its harmonious paths, the beauty of its flowers and the shadows under its trees. All the people, young and old, enjoy themselves in the gardens. The children can rent boats and sail in the glassy ponds while the elders play chess under awnings. Moreover, there are many statues of the queens of France, including a figure of Saint Genevieve, the patron of Paris.

One reason I love Paris is that one can escape to a park almost anywhere in the city.

Le Jardin du Luxembourg is one of the most famous and honestly one of the best in Paris. It borders both the 6th and the 14th districts location-wise.

It was once the private property of Queen Marie de Medici and her palace has been used since 1958 as the Senate. She requested the palace be built to resemble her girlhood home in Florence, Pitti Palace.

You can sit in any of the green metal chairs surrounding the grounds where beautiful flowers bloom in abundance in sunny months. Also there are many activities for kids such as playgrounds, marionette shows and sailboating. Adults may partake in chess tournaments daily, rain or shine!

4 more images

The Luxembourg Gardens are one of the treasures of the Latin Quarter. There is something for everyone. They are a lovely place to visit with or without children. There is an art gallery, a lovely fountain with toy sailboats for rent for children, pony rides, puppet shows, lots of concerts, sculptures (including a Statue of Liberty), tennis courts, boules courts, chess games to play or watch, playgrounds and flowers . . . and chairs to enjoy it all.

Don't miss the Medici Fountain near the concert venue. It is just beautiful and a very romantic place in Paris. I once recommended the Medici Fountain as a good place to propose when a young man asked about it on the Forum. It would be perfect for a proposal . . . don't forget the flowers.