While strolling around the Saint-Germain neighbourhood, be sure to keep an eye out for some of these statues, parks, and historical sites to add a little something extra to your afternoon.

Jardin du Luxembourg

One of Paris’ most beautiful parks with lavish gardens to wander and relax in. Perhaps you’ll do as the Parisian do and sit yourself down in the afternoon with a good book before eventually drifting off for a nap. An absolute pleasure to walk through, these gardens are a must as you explore the Left Bank – a staple when exploring the Saint-Germain neighbourhood and the 6th arr. or when exploring the Latin Quarter.

The gardens are Italian style, designed to reflect the gardens of Florence, specifically the Pitti Palace, which was home to the wife King Henry IV. His widow, Marie de’ Medici, commissioned the Jardin du Luxembourg with the intent to bring Florentine customs and gardens to France. Florence was also home to Catherine de’ Medici, wife of King Henri II and mother of the succeeding three future kings of France, from Francis II to Henri III.  

As you stroll through the park and enjoy the central fountain, take note of the many busts and statues, many including famous queens and women of royalty. Others include famed musicians, philosophers, scientists, and politicians. Just some of the many statues include Mary Queen of Scots, Anne of Austria, Margaret of Anjou, Beethoven, and a statue of the mythological Narcissus.

Interestingly, these famed gardens have been used as both a prison during the French Revolution and as a German barracks and bunker after the Nazis took Paris – the barracks in the palace and the bunker dug into the garden.

How to Get There: Métro stations surround the gardens, albeit a few block away. To subway there, go to one of these stations: Luxembourg (RER B), Notre-Dame-des-Champs (M12), Renne (M12), Saint-Placide (M4) and Odéon (M4 or M10).