The Palais de Luxembourg was built by Queen Marie de Medici, after the death of King Henry IV in 1610. (Henry was assassinated the day after Marie's coronation. She became regent for her son, the future Louis XIII, who became king in 1617.)

Marie had been born in the Pitti Palace in Florence, Italy, and apparently she never liked living at the Louvre. The Palais de Luxembourg was modelled on the Pitti Palace and has a definite Florentine feel to it.

The lovely Palais de Luxembourg, seen from the Gardens.

Its elegant design is also complemented by the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens, to the south of the Palace. The gardens are known for their beautiful flowers, their lovely pools (where children sail small boats) and their statues, many of French royalty. The gardens are a lovely place to stroll, and there are also small cafes where you can enjoy a drink or something to eat.

We were even fortunate enough to see an outdoor performance of Rigoletto, with the Palais as an elegant backdrop. (This is not a regular occurence; we were lucky!)

The Palace has served as a residence, a parliamentary assembly, a consulate, and was even occupied by the Germans during World War II. In the 1950s it became the home of the French Sénat, the upper chamber of government.

As such, the building is closed to the public and serves an official purpose. However, on the annual Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days) in September, it is possible to tour the palace and stare in awe at the ornate ballrooms and other chambers, as well as the extensive library.

To the west of the palais one first sees the Petit Luxembourg, the residence of the President of the Senate; and then Musée du Luxembourg, one of the leading exhibition spaces in Paris.

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