In short
Nestled within the twenty-five hectares of royal gardens commissioned by Marie de' Medici, the park's fountains (Luxembourg Gardens) combine the magnificence of seventeenth-century architecture with everyday Parisian life. From the famous and Parisian Medici Fountain hidden among the leaves to the large central basin, water defines the geometry and the very soul of this green masterpiece.
Period: creations from 1630 to the end of the nineteenth century
Architecture: Formal Gardens and Isolated Water Monuments
Main sculptor: JeTommaso Francini, Alphonse de Gisors and Auguste Ottin
Best time: the afternoon, when the light filters through the branches of the centuries-old plane trees
☰ Table of Contents
The ideal stop
Combine this with a reading break on the famous sage green metal chairs scattered around the octagonal pond.
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Recommended parking time 40'
Forty minutes is ideal to complete the tour of the park's main fountains.
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The local rite
Rent a small, colorful wooden sailboat to float on the central basin by pushing it with a stick.
What to see at the Luxembourg Gardens Fountains
Stroll through the different sectors of the park to discover the water monuments that decorate the views of the Senate building and the more private paths.
The Medici Fountain The most beautiful
The very long shaded pool of water, culminating in the monumental baroque aedicule with the sculptural group of Polyphemus surprising Acis and Galatea.
The Central Grand Bassin
The large octagonal pool located in front of the facade of the building, the beating heart of the park's recreational activities.
The Fountain of Leda
The evocative bas-relief hidden at the back of the Medici Fountain, which shows the mythological scene of Leda and the swan sprinkling water into a semicircular basin.
The minor sculptural monuments
The side avenues in search of small artistic decorative sources dedicated to poets, hunting deities and queens of France from history.
The fountain in the fruit garden
Find the small, discreet stone basin nestled among the rows of historic apple and pear trees cultivated by the Senate gardeners.
Visiting the Fountains of the Luxembourg Gardens
Take your time along the gravel paths, following these quick tips to enjoy the water features while respecting the strict rules of the public park.
Best moment
At two o'clock in the evening, when the gardens fill up with Parisians on their lunch break and students from the nearby Sorbonne.
Crowding
Very intense around the central basin on sunny weekends, more intimate and quiet along the Medici Fountain.
Suitable for children
Yes, the boat pond and nearby puppet theatres make it a paradise for little ones.
What not to miss
The huge colorful carp swimming peacefully under the floating leaves of the Medici pond.
Type of experience
Parisian, relaxing, aristocratic and deeply rooted in Parisian tradition.
What to expect
The sound of footsteps on the gravel, children running, and the mirror of water reflecting the dome of the Pantheon.
How to Visit the Fountains of the Luxembourg Gardens
You can enter through one of the many perimeter gates, such as the one on Boulevard Saint-Michel. Walk towards the palace façade to admire the octagonal Grand Bassin, then enter the grove on the eastern side to discover the Medici Fountain.
Need to know
- Maria de' Medici wanted to recreate the atmosphere of the Boboli Gardens in her native Florence.
- The Florentine hydraulic engineer Tommaso Francini designed the structure of the baroque grotto.
- Originally the Medici fountain was just a decorative facade without the long front pool of water.
- During Haussmann's 19th-century works, the entire fountain was at risk of being demolished and was moved thirty metres.
Practical advice
- Check the official website for the exact closing time of the month so you don't get caught by the guards.
- Bring a book: the shaded area of the Medici Fountain is the coolest place in Paris in summer.
- Don't dip your feet in the pools: park officials will fine violators severely.
- If you're traveling with children, bring some coins to rent the historic sailing boats.
How to get to the Fountains of the Luxembourg Gardens
The royal complex is located in the central portion of the sixth arrondissement, bordering the Latin Quarter.
Line B stops at Luxembourg station, located directly in front of the eastern gates.
Lines 4 and 10 serve the convenient Odéon stop, five minutes away.
Lines 21, 27, 38, 82, 84 and 89 stop along the external gates.
Climb the Sainte-Geneviève hill from Boulevard Saint-Michel.
Rue de Medicis, 75006
Official Transport Paris
- Paris Metro Map
- RER tickets and fares
- Taxis in Paris (numbers and alternatives)
History of the Fountains of the Luxembourg Gardens
In 1611, after the assassination of King Henry IV, Queen Regent Marie de' Medici decided to abandon the Louvre Palace and move to a new and grandiose residence that would remind her of her Tuscan origins. She purchased the land of the Duke of Luxembourg and began construction of an immense palace surrounded by formal gardens. Around 1630, the Florentine hydraulic engineer Tommaso Francini created the "Luxembourg Grotto," a monumental decorative stone wall with niches and fake stalactites, fed by the Arcueil aqueduct that brought water to the city.
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Over the following centuries, the garden underwent partial abandonment and changes of ownership, but the truly great transformation occurred in the mid-nineteenth century with the drastic urban demolitions orchestrated by Baron Haussmann. The opening of the new Rue de Médicis threatened to erase Francini's work forever; to save it, the Senate architect Alphonse de Gisors decided in 1862 to move the entire monument thirty meters, redesigning the structure. Gisors added the very long rectangular pool flanked by plane trees and commissioned the sculptor Auguste Ottin to create the dramatic bronze and marble sculpture.
At the rear of the same structure, to conceal the newly constructed, bare rear wall, Gisors decided to restore the old Leda Fountain, an eighteenth-century bas-relief salvaged from the demolition of a street intersection in the Saint-Germain district. The two fountains were thus combined into a single monumental block, creating a dual aquatic spectacle that contrasted with the linearity of the large central octagonal body of water built in front of the imperial palace.
Today, the Luxembourg Gardens' water system is a delicate technological masterpiece, constantly monitored by Senate technicians. Recent restorations have cleared the limestone of limescale encrustations and reactivated the ecological water circulation, ensuring the preservation of the sculptures and offering a pristine setting that continues to inspire poets, writers, and Parisian residents.
Curiosities about the Fountains of the Luxembourg Gardens
Unique anecdotes and little-known details hidden among the water features of the royal park.
The century-old boats: the tradition of floating small sailing vessels in the octagonal basin began in the 19th century. Even today, the hand-painted wooden models that children rent represent the real flags of the world's various nations.
A two-tone Polyphemus: to accentuate the drama of the myth, the sculptor Ottin deliberately chose different materials. The jealous giant Polyphemus is cast in a dark bronze, while the two terrified lovers, Acis and Galatea, are sculpted from pure white Carrara marble.
Royal carp: The large carp that inhabit the Medici Fountain basin are protected and catalogued. Some historic specimens have reached remarkable size and lived to be over twenty years old thanks to the gardeners' care.
The invisible slope: The rectangular basin of the Medici Fountain exploits a subtle optical illusion. It was built with a very slight artificial slope that makes the body of water appear much longer and deeper than it actually is.
Tickets and tours nearby
Find accommodation near the Luxembourg Gardens Fountains
You can check prices and distances from the Gardens on the map below. For a more in-depth comparison, read our guide to the best accommodations in the Latin Quarter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the boats on the central lake be rented in winter?
No, the rental kiosk is only open from April to October and on sunny weekends. It's still a great way to experience Paris with kids.
Who are the human figures seen in the main niche of the Medici fountain?
They are the young lovers Acis and Galatea, surmounted by the gigantic Cyclops Polyphemus ready to hurl a boulder.
What is written above the Leda Fountain on the back of the monument?
The Latin inscription commemorates the rescue and transfer of the street bas-relief by the Senate.
Where does all the water that feeds the park's octagonal basin come from?
The modern system uses non-potable water from the municipal water supply, purified and recycled in a closed circuit.
Can you walk over the stone balustrades to photograph the statue up close?
No, access to the inner edges of the basin is strictly prohibited so as not to disturb the stability of the monument.
Are there drinking fountains to fill water bottles inside the park?
Yes, near the monumental fountains there are several functioning Wallace fountains with fresh drinkable water.
Does the Medici Fountain freeze completely during Parisian cold snaps?
In winter the water is turned off and partially drained to prevent the pressure of the ice from cracking the stone.
Can you see the Luxembourg Palace while sitting next to the Medici Fountain?
No, the fountain is oriented sideways and hidden by trees; to see the palace you have to move to the central basin.
