Page 176 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Paris

174  P ARIS AREA B Y AREA

1 Place St-Sulpice storey west front with two tiers 4 Fontaine Médicis
of elegant columns. The overall
75006. Map 12 E4. q St-Sulpice. Jardin du Luxembourg, Rue de
harmony of the build ing is Vaugirard 75006. Map 12 F5.
This large square, which is marred only by the towers, one W Luxembourg.
dominated on the east side at each end, which do not match.
by the enormous church from Large arched windows fill the Built in 1624 for Marie de Médici
which it takes its name, was interior with light. By the front by an unknown architect, this
built in the last half of the door are two huge shells given vigorous Baroque fountain stands
18th century. to François I by the Venetian at the end of a long pond filled
Two main features of the Republic – they rest on bases with goldfish. The mythological
square are the Fountain of sculpted by Jean-Baptiste Pigalle. figures were added much later
the Four Bishops by Joachim In the side chapel to the right by Auguste Ottin (1866).
Visconti (1844) and the pink- of the main door are three
flowering chestnut trees. There magnificent murals by Eugène
is also the Café de la Mairie, a Delacroix: Jacob Wrestling with the 5 Jardin du
rendezvous of writers and Angel (see p139), Heliodorus Driven Luxembourg
students, which is often from the Temple and St-Michael
featured in French films. Killing the Dragon. If you are lucky, Blvd St-Michel/Rue de Vaugirard/
you can catch an organ recital. Rue Guynemer 75006. Map 12 E5.
Tel 01 42 34 23 89 or 01 42 34 20 00.
q Odéon. W Luxembourg. Open
3 Palais du dawn–dusk daily. 8 Wed (Apr–Oct).
Luxembourg - ∑ senat.fr/visite
19 Rue de Vaugirard 75006. Map 12 E5.
Tel 01 42 34 20 60 (groups, apply three A green oasis covering 25 ha
months in advance); 01 44 54 19 30 (60 acres) in the heart of the
(individuals, email visites@senat.fr). Left Bank, this is one of the
q Odéon. W Luxembourg. Open by most popular parks in Paris. The
appt (see above), by guided tour (see beautifully sculpted gardens
below) and during exhibitions, when are centred around the Palais
hours vary. 8 one Sat each month. du Luxembourg and feature
^ ∑ senat.fr/visite an octagonal basin that is
often surrounded by children
Now the home of the French sailing their toy boats.
Stained-glass window of St-Sulpice Senate, this palace was designed The Jardin du Luxembourg
by Salomon de Brosse in the was created at the request of
2 St-Sulpice style of Florence’s Pitti Palace to Marie de Médici between 1612
remind Marie de Médicis, widow and 1631. Homesick for her
2 Rue Palatine, Pl St-Sulpice 75006. Map of Henri IV, of her native town. hometown of Florence, she had
12 E5. Tel 01 42 34 59 98. q St-Sulpice.
Open 7:30am–7:30pm daily. 5 daily. By the time it was finished it designed to remind her of the
8 Crypt: 3:30pm 2nd & 4th Sun of (1631), Marie had been banished, Boboli Gardens. The original
month (Tel 01 43 25 03 10). Concerts. but it remained a royal palace garden measured 8 ha (20 acres),
∑ paroisse-saint-sulpice-paris.org until the Revolution. In World and remaining today are the
War II, it was the headquarters large pond, the Fontaine
It took over a century, from 1646, of the Luftwaffe. The Musée du Médicis and 2,000 elm trees.
for this imposing church to be Lux em bourg, in the east gallery, Statues were placed around
built. The result is a simple two- hosts art exhibitions (see p175). the park around 1848, and they
include those of the queens of
France, famous French women –
Sainte Genevieve, patron of
Paris, is an impressive example –
and, later, famous writers and
artists, too, totalling 106 statues.
The garden is a great space
for children, with activities such
as a puppet theatre starring
the famous character Guignol,
a fenced-in playground, a
carousel and tennis courts.
Adults can play chess or
bridge, wander through
the open-air photography
exhibitions or grab a chair
Sculptures on the Palais du Luxembourg and enjoy a free concert.

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