Paris Luxembourg Gardens Magnet

The park, 22,45 hectare large (about 55 acres), was originally owned by the duke of Luxemburg, hence the name. The domain was purchased in 1612 by Marie de' Medici, mother of Louis XIII. The gardens were laid out in Italian style on request of Marie de' Medici. She was of Italian descent and had spent her youth in Florence at the Pitti Palace. The Boboli garden at this palace was the inspiration for the Jardin du Luxembourg. In the 19th century when the private park opened to the public, it was redesigned in a more French style but the original layout has been preserved. At the centre of the park is an octagonal pond, known as the Grand Bassin. Here, children can rent small boats. There are many other attractions for children such as the puppet theatre, pony rides and a merry-go-round. Around the pond are nice lawns and alleys, all laid out in a geometrical pattern. Numerous statues, including the Statue of Saint-Geneviève - patroness of Paris - adorn the park. This is also one of the parks where you can simply get hold of one of the many chairs and take it to the exact spot where you want to sit. The park is also popular with chess players and Jeux de Boules players. The Jardin du Luxembourg features two noteworthy fountains. The most famous one is the Fontaine de Medicis, a romantic baroque fountain designed in 1624. It is located at the end of a small pond at the Fontaine de Medicis, Jardins du Luxembourg, Paris Fontaine de Medicis northeast side of the park. A central sculpture group shows the Greek mythological figure of Polyphemus who watches the lovers Acis and Galatea. It is flanked by allegorical figures depicting the rivers Seine and Rhône. At the southern end of the park, at an extension known as the Jardins de l'Observatoire, is another fountain, the Fontaine de l'Observatoire designed by Davioud, Carpaux and Frémiet in 1873. The fountain includes a statue of a globe supported by four women, each representing a continent. To maintain symmetry, Oceania was left out.