If you’re in Paris on a Sunday and you visit the Jardin du Luxembourg, you’ll certainly feel like a local as it’s one of the favourite parks for Parisians…
What to see at the Jardin du Luxembourg
The Jardin du Luxembourg is situated in the 6th arrondissement between the Quartier Latin and Saint Germain des Pres. It was created upon the initiative of Queen Marie de Medici in 1612 and has gardens which are split into French and English styles and cover 25 hectares of land. In the middle of this beautiful park, you’ll find a large pond with the wooden boats. There are also 106 statues spread throughout the park and they really enhance your visit.
A must see is the Fontaine de Medicis, a baroque fountain designed in 1624. Alongside, you can take a rest in one of the green chairs. The style of the famous green chairs was created in 1923. French company Fermob retail a copy so you can create your own Parisian park look at home.
There are a lot of activities to do in the park. Adults can play chess, tennis or remote control boats. For the children there are facilities such as puppets, rides and slides.
You’ll see Parisians relaxing after a busy workweek in the green chairs, reading, chatting, relaxing. I saw two women practicing a text for a play, children were playing and there was music, a choir sang French songs in the background. There’s an outdoor cafe where you can enjoy a drink while listening to the music on Sunday. It gives a real feeling of being a Parisian and makes for a perfect getaway in the heart of the city.
When you have spent enough time in the park, it is a nice idea to stroll through the 6th arrondissement. Here you can stop off at the legendary Café de Flore for a glass of wine or walk along the Seine and buy a vintage magazine from the bouquinistes, the second hand book sellers with their iconic green book stalls.
By Darina Nykl who lives in Holland where she works in a hospital and is an author. She blogs about the stories she is writing which are mostly set in Amsterdam, Paris, Provence and the Cote d’Azur: darinanykl.com
