Garden of the Queens – Part 2

I first chanced upon Jardin du Luxembourg after visiting le Panthéon national monument. As I strolled down Montagne Sainte-Geneviève, I was happy to discover that the gardens were just below it. Walking along the garden fence, I enjoyed the free photographic exhibition that was mounted on it. And as I entered the Odéon gate next to le palais, I came upon the most famous feature in Luxembourg: La fontaine Médicis. Built in the form of a grotto in 1630 by Queen Marie de Medici, the Medici Fountain is a sight to behold. A long, reflective bassin de l’eau is flanked by plane trees and beautiful, giant swags of ivy. At the far end, the grotto is adorned with stunning sculptures of the giant Polyphemus surprising the lovers Acis and Galatea. All of this makes it a lovely, quiet spot to sit and soak up the surrounding beauty.     This is the border of the French garden within Jardin du Luxembourg. Moving further into it, I discovered a lovely collection of sculptures along with a great view of le Panthéon. These are just a few of the 106 sculptures found within the gardens. And if you take a stroll through the English Garden, keep an eye out for the first model of ‘Liberty Enlightening the World’, better known as the ‘Statue of Liberty‘.

The French garden also has a small café, Pavillon de La Fontaine, from which you can enjoy a glass of wine while listening to a free musical performance at the nearby gazebo.

Read Part 3 of ‘Garden of the Queens’ and discover the many pleasures to be found in the English Garden of Jardin du Luxembourg.

Jardin du Luxembourg  Rue de Médicis – Rue de Vaugirard, 75006 Paris

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