Luxembourg Palace
Luxembourg Palace
4.5
About
This beautiful neo-classical building serves as a meeting place for the country's politicians, while its beautiful gardens are enjoyed by all.
Duration: < 1 hour
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: 6th Arr. - Luxembourg
Paris' 6th Arr. - Luxembourg neighborhood is a haven for culture seekers and lovers of the good life. The neighborhood is home to the famous Jardin du Luxembourg, an idyllic spot for leisurely strolls amidst statues and beautifully manicured gardens. The Saint-Germain-des-Prés area is an intellectual's paradise, dotted with bookshops, historic cafés, and the renowned L'Académie française. Foodies will delight in the array of French bistros and patisseries found throughout the area. With numerous metro and bus lines, exploring the rest of Paris from this central location is a breeze. The unique blend of culture, gastronomy, and serene beauty gives the 6th Arr. - Luxembourg neighborhood an allure that's hard to resist.
How to get there
- Luxembourg Station • 5 min walk
- Odéon • 5 min walk
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4.5
1,209 reviews
Excellent
733
Very good
400
Average
71
Poor
3
Terrible
2
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Mairwen1
United Kingdom12,410 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
This sprawling Italian-Renaisssance styled Palace is the central feature of the Luxembourg Gardens. If you are short of time and have to cut to the highlights, you can head straight to the palace and its surrounding gardens.
Commissioned in 1630 by Marie de Medici, the widow of King Henry IV of France and mother of Louis XIII, it stands in front of a small, man-made lake with a central fountain. Leading up to the palace are terraces of marble statues, known as ‘the Twenty Queens of France’.
It is really very lovely and we spent some time lingering around the lake, enjoying the beautiful surrounds and the sun. Others lounged in the free ‘Luxembourg chairs’ that are scattered throughout the gardens.
Covering 24 hectares, the grounds are free to wander through but you can’t go inside the palace at all. Nowadays, it functions as the seat of the French Senate so it’s not open to the public. An exception is during the Heritage weekend in September when historic sites throughout Europe hold special open days.
Although it is not immediately obvious, the romantic Medici Fountain is nearby and is worth seeking out before you leave.
Commissioned in 1630 by Marie de Medici, the widow of King Henry IV of France and mother of Louis XIII, it stands in front of a small, man-made lake with a central fountain. Leading up to the palace are terraces of marble statues, known as ‘the Twenty Queens of France’.
It is really very lovely and we spent some time lingering around the lake, enjoying the beautiful surrounds and the sun. Others lounged in the free ‘Luxembourg chairs’ that are scattered throughout the gardens.
Covering 24 hectares, the grounds are free to wander through but you can’t go inside the palace at all. Nowadays, it functions as the seat of the French Senate so it’s not open to the public. An exception is during the Heritage weekend in September when historic sites throughout Europe hold special open days.
Although it is not immediately obvious, the romantic Medici Fountain is nearby and is worth seeking out before you leave.
Written 2 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
🩶⚜️ 𝓝𝓪𝓽𝔂® ⚜️🩶
Moscow, Russia180,159 contributions
July 2023 • Couples
The palace was built for Maria Medici, who wanted it to resemble her native Florence. After the queen's death in 1642, the Dukes of Orléans resided in the palace. During the revolution, the palace was recognized as a national treasure and transformed into a prison. In 1799, the building was handed over to the Senate and luxurious official parties were held there.
Written 7 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wesley C
Tucson, AZ10,265 contributions
Sept 2021
Beautiful royal palais built in 1615-45 with huge gardens (60 acres) containing over 100 statues honoring the Queens of France and other famous French women. Very popular spot to Parisiennes to relax. The palace is now the home of the French Senate since 1799-1805 and was enlarged in 1835-56.
Written 13 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JnVSydney
Greater Sydney, Australia26,891 contributions
Jan 2020
The palace itself, is quite grand, and architecturally beautiful, built in the 1600’s for Marie de Medici, (Queen of France, 1573 to 1642), her statue can be seen on the terrace above the gardens big basin, standing to the right side when facing the palace. For us the Gardens Luxembourg (see review) is the big attraction, nice to walk the leafy pathways, and sit having lunch by the Medici Fountain, (see review). The palace being the centre piece.
Written 17 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BrakiWorldTraveler
Belgrade, Serbia20,833 contributions
Dec 2019
The Luxembourg palace was built in 17c as a Royal residence, becoming the legislative office after the revolution and housing the French Senate nowadays.
The palace was built in massive Louis XIII style and it was the predecessor of the vast Versailles palace of Louis XIV. The Luxembourg palace has a respectable size considering it's in the heart of Paris with huge jardins behind.
The palace was built in massive Louis XIII style and it was the predecessor of the vast Versailles palace of Louis XIV. The Luxembourg palace has a respectable size considering it's in the heart of Paris with huge jardins behind.
Written 26 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dimitris L
Sydney, Australia54,612 contributions
Oct 2019
Luxembourg Palace was built in the first half of the 17th century as a royal residence. It has had some really interesting and intriguing history. Today it is the place where the Senate, part of the French Parliament meets. It is quite a luxurious building, and you would expect nothing less!
Written 17 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
German F
New Jersey256 contributions
Sept 2021 • Couples
Worth visiting. Big park with nice lawns, flowers, trees, and a pond in front of the Luxembourg Palace. Many locals, young and old, hang out at the park enjoying the scenery, relaxing or having a picnic. Great for photos. After the gardens, Saint Germaine is only a 10 min walk away.
Written 10 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Garth E
2 contributions
Feb 2018 • Solo
Does anyone know what it costs to enter the Luxembourg palace? Where do you go to buy tickets and are the lines long to get in? Any advice will be helpful.
Written 20 February 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NicanorRosario
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic1,213 contributions
Nov 2019
Magnificent. As if the gardens weren't enough. A great combination of two amazing places. Grab a chair, sit down and relax
Written 2 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rumples
Tucson, AZ11,776 contributions
Mar 2016 • Solo
This historic building stands on the Northeast border of the magnificent Luxembourg Gardens. Built between 1615 and 1645 as the royal residence of Marie de Medicis, mother of Louis XIII of France, the palace became home to the French Senate in 1958. In between, the large structure had many uses, including a museum, a prison and a residence for Napoleon Bonaparte.
I have never been inside the palace, which was totally renovated to serve as a legislative building. But tours for individuals are offered one Saturday a month. Contact the Centre des Monuments Nationaux for more information.
On my frequent visits to Paris, I have used the palace as a start- and end-point for jogs around the 62-acre garden. And I enjoy sitting in a chair for a while with the palace as a backdrop. On a recent sunny day, hundreds of others had the same idea. The area seemed as crowded as the space beneath the Eiffel Tower. A fence between the palace and gardens with guards stationed by the building offered security . Big white bags in the protected area appeared to hold landscaping materials or elements for an exterior construction project.
I do not recommend making the Luxembourg Palace a destination in itself. But the Luxembourg Gardens are well worth a visit and a stop there gives an opportunity to look at the palace's exterior and consider its history.
Those traveling with children will find much within the gardens to keep youngsters entertained, including a puppet-show theatre, a fenced-in playground, a carousel and pony rides.
I have never been inside the palace, which was totally renovated to serve as a legislative building. But tours for individuals are offered one Saturday a month. Contact the Centre des Monuments Nationaux for more information.
On my frequent visits to Paris, I have used the palace as a start- and end-point for jogs around the 62-acre garden. And I enjoy sitting in a chair for a while with the palace as a backdrop. On a recent sunny day, hundreds of others had the same idea. The area seemed as crowded as the space beneath the Eiffel Tower. A fence between the palace and gardens with guards stationed by the building offered security . Big white bags in the protected area appeared to hold landscaping materials or elements for an exterior construction project.
I do not recommend making the Luxembourg Palace a destination in itself. But the Luxembourg Gardens are well worth a visit and a stop there gives an opportunity to look at the palace's exterior and consider its history.
Those traveling with children will find much within the gardens to keep youngsters entertained, including a puppet-show theatre, a fenced-in playground, a carousel and pony rides.
Written 23 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Boa tarde. Irei a Paris em abril próximo. Gostaria de saber se o Palácio de Luxemburgo é aberto à visitação. Obrigada.
Written 24 February 2019
Hello, Do you know how to get inside the building?
Written 22 January 2019
We will be visiting the gardens at the end of November. Are the toy sail boats available year round?
Written 12 November 2017
Not sure and don't know who to ask. I have a feeling that they are available most of the year. Not sure what they cost....but doubt that it is very much as they are very popular. Not that there is a nice children's play area in the park (not sure of the cost there either).
Written 20 November 2017
vou com minha família para Paris, gostaria de saber quais pontos turísticos estarão abertos dia 31 dedezembro 2017 e dia 01 de janeiro de 2018 . obrigado
Written 3 October 2017
You can only visit the building with a government official invitation or during a small window of time when all government buildings are opened to the general public. Regardless. FREE.
The beautiful gardens are free.
Written 11 October 2017
What metro line runs from Gare du nord to Palais du Luxembourg
Written 9 March 2015
Jaff66 is correct. It is the blue line that comes from Charles de Gaulle, goes to Gare de Nord and then Gare de l'est and down to Luxembourg. The direction to look for is Robinson or Saint Remy les Chevreuse (it splits at the end so not sure which it says on the train). Bonnes Vacances!
Written 10 March 2015
I will be in Paris from April 28th leaving May 4th. This is a must see for me. How can I get tickets if they are required to see the Palace.
Written 13 January 2015
The garden is free, there is no charge to walk through the gardens. The actual Palace is the offices of the French Senate, I do not think you can access the building, but we did not go into the building.
Written 14 January 2015
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