Luxembourg Garden Smartphone Tour in Paris

What's included

What you'll see and do

1. Luxembourg Garden

   The Luxembourg Gardens (Jardin du Luxembourg) are a 23-hectare public park in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, laid out in the 1610s alongside the Luxembourg Palace for Marie de' Medici. They're one of the city's most beloved green spaces, blending formal French garden design with English-style landscaping in different sections. The gardens feature a large octagonal pond where children sail toy boats, the ornate Medici Fountain tucked beneath a canopy of trees, and manicured lawns bordered by chestnut and lime trees. Statues of French queens and historical figures line the central terraces, and the grounds also host an orchard, beehives, tennis courts, and a puppet theater. The park draws locals and tourists alike for picnics, jogging, chess games, and simply relaxing near the Senate building that overlooks it.

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2. Luxembourg Palace

   The Luxembourg Palace (Palais du Luxembourg) sits in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, bordering the Luxembourg Gardens on the Left Bank. It was built in the early 17th century, starting in 1615, for Marie de' Medici, the widowed queen of Henry IV, who wanted a residence reminiscent of the Pitti Palace in her native Florence. The architect Salomon de Brosse designed it in a style that blends French classical architecture with Italian Renaissance influences, including rusticated stonework and a layout organized around a central courtyard. After the French Revolution the palace passed through several uses, including a stint as a prison, before becoming the seat of various legislative bodies. Since 1958, under the Fifth Republic, it has served as the home of the French Senate, which it remains today.

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3. La fontaine Medicis

   The Medici Fountain (Fontaine Médicis) is a monumental fountain in the Luxembourg Gardens, tucked at the eastern end near the palace in a shaded, tree-lined alley. It was commissioned around 1630 by Marie de' Medici, likely inspired by the grotto-style fountains of Florence, though the design is often attributed to Salomon de Brosse, the palace's architect. The fountain is built in an Italianate grotto style, with a long reflecting pool lined by plane trees. Its centerpiece is a sculptural group depicting the mythological giant Polyphemus looming over the lovers Acis and Galatea, added in the 19th century by sculptor Auguste Ottin. Water trickles down the rusticated stone facade into the pool below, creating a cool, secluded retreat that contrasts with the open, sunny lawns elsewhere in the gardens. It's a favorite spot for quiet reading, contemplation, or a peaceful walk away from the busier parts of the park.

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4. The Statue of Liberty replica at 3 Rue Guynemer sits at the southwestern edge of the Luxembourg Gardens, near the Musée du Luxembourg. It's a bronze scale model created by the sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the same artist behind the full-size Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, which was a gift from France to the United States in 1886. This particular cast is one of several smaller Bartholdi replicas found around Paris. A version stood in this spot in the gardens for years, but the original bronze was moved to the Musée d'Orsay in 2012 for preservation, and a faithful bronze replica now occupies the original pedestal. Standing a few meters tall, it depicts Liberty holding her torch aloft and a tablet inscribed with the date of American independence, and it draws visitors curious about the deep artistic and historical ties between Paris and the famous New York landmark.

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5. The Orangerie du Sénat is a greenhouse building located within the Luxembourg Gardens, adjacent to the Luxembourg Palace, home of the French Senate. It was built in the 19th century to shelter the garden's collection of tender, non-hardy plants, particularly citrus trees, palms, and other exotic species, during the cold Paris winters. Each spring, gardeners move around 180 potted orange, lemon, oleander, and palm trees out of the Orangerie and arrange them across the gardens' terraces, a tradition that has continued for generations. In the off-season, the building itself has also occasionally been used for temporary art exhibitions organized by the Senate, given its elegant architecture and abundant natural light. It remains a quieter, less-visited corner of the Luxembourg Gardens, valued more for its horticultural role than as a major tourist attraction.

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6. Musee du Luxembourg

   The Musée du Luxembourg is an art museum located at the edge of the Luxembourg Gardens, adjacent to the Luxembourg Palace, in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. Housed in a building constructed in the early 1750s as an orangery for the palace, it has a claim to being one of France's first public art galleries, having opened its doors to the public in 1750 to display part of the royal collection, including works by Rubens and Titian. Today the museum is run by the Réunion des Musées Nationaux-Grand Palais and is best known for hosting high-profile, ticketed temporary exhibitions rather than maintaining a permanent collection. These shows often focus on major painters and art movements, drawing large crowds and long queues, especially on weekends. Its central location, small and manageable size, and steady lineup of blockbuster exhibitions make it a popular stop for visitors already exploring the Luxembourg Gardens.

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Where it starts and ends

Before you book

Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Languages

en

Ticket

Mobile Only

Runs on

Every day

Group size

Up to 15 travelers per booking

Operated by

VoiceMap Audio Tours

Know before you go

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• The total tour time includes walking the route and passing by the attractions

Photos