Created in 1612 at the behest of Marie de Médicis to complement her palace, Luxembourg Garden now spans over 22 hectares in Paris’s 6th arrondissement. It gracefully blends formal French parterres and straight avenues with English-style lawns and shaded groves .

At its heart lies a large octagonal basin where children sail model boats, surrounded by the iconic green “Sénat chairs” designed for comfort and sociability. Nearby stands the Medici Fountain, dating from 1630, featuring a Baroque grotto with a sculptural group depicting Polyphemus and Galatea.

The garden hosts 106 sculptures of historic women, queens, and saints (including the “Queens of France and Illustrious Women” series), offering a cultural stroll under the open sky. A fruit orchard, greenhouses, and orangerie—formerly part of the Chartreux convent—house over 500 varieties of apples, pears, and tropical plants.

Family-friendly features include a puppet theatre, carousel, swings, sandbox, pony rides, and courts for tennis, boules, chess, and bridge. Adults can enjoy free concerts at the music kiosk, photographic exhibitions on the perimeter fences, and garden tours led by a Sénat gardener.

The atmosphere is tranquil, elegant, and quintessentially Parisian: solo strollers, families, students, and professionals on break mingle in this green sanctuary—once even the site of Olympic long-tennis in 1900.

Entrance is free year‑round, open from dawn until dusk (hours updated bi‑monthly). Public transport access via Odéon/Mabillon metros, Luxembourg RER B, and multiple bus lines. Amenities include free restrooms, a café/restaurant (La Terrasse de Madame), kiosks, and a designated dog‑friendly zone.

Luxembourg Garden is a historic, cultural, and natural gem: a timeless urban oasis where royal history, horticulture, neighborhood life, and leisure converge.