Luxembourg Palace

The gorgeous Luxembourg Palace and Gardens were commissioned by Marie de Médicis, mother of Louis XIII. The name originates from the previous owner of the estate François de Luxembourg, Prince of Tingry. His original mansion still exists and is now called the "Petit Luxembourg".

Marie wanted a palace that would remind her of the Pitti Palazzo where she grew up in Firenze so French architect Salomon de Brosse incorporated the bossage aspect for the façades. This is what gives the Luxembourg Palace its distinct look compared to other French palaces.

Young Louis XIII grew up there and lived in one wing of the Palace while the Queen mother occupied the opposite wing. The Gardens design have been modified countless times since their creation considering all the different regimes France went through after the French Revolution but one can still imagine mother and son wandering through the gardens, perhaps at different times since they did not get along very well...