The Tuileries Garden (Jardin des Tuileries) is not just the most central and visited park in Paris. It is a vast open-air museum, a living history lesson, and the embodiment of the evolution of garden art. It stretches from the Louvre to the Place de la Concorde, forming an essential link on the famous historic axis of Paris (Axe historique).
History: From a Royal Residence to a Public Park
Its history begins with tragedy and ambition. In 1564, Queen Catherine de` Medici, who had lost her husband Henry II, ordered the construction of a new palace—the Tuileries Palace (Tuileries)—on the site of former tile workshops (tuileries), which gave it its name. A garden in the Italian style, private and melancholic, intended for the solitary walks of the widowed queen, was laid out next to the palace.
The garden`s new flourishing is associated with the "Sun King" Louis XIV. The genius landscape architect André Le Nôtre, creator of Versailles, completely transformed the Tuileries in 1664. Le Nôtre destroyed its privacy, creating a grand park open for walks by the nobility. He straightened the alleys, created the main perspective (that very historic axis), built a terrace with a view of the Seine, and filled the garden with sculptures.
After the French Revolution, the garden became the world`s first public urban park. It opened to all classes, transforming into a favorite leisure spot for Parisians. The Tuileries Palace, which served as a residence for Napoleon I and Napoleon III, was burned to the ground by the Paris Commune in 1871. All that remained was a vast empty space between the Louvre and the garden, which is now occupied by the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel. The garden itself survived and preserved Le Nôtre`s layout, becoming a symbol of the continuity of eras.
Layout: The Triumph of Le Nôtre
The garden`s layout is a classic example of the French formal style. Geometry, symmetry, and order reign here.
• Central Axis: The main wide alley runs from the Louvre Pyramid through the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, the entire garden, and the Place de la Concorde to the Champs-Élysées. It is the "backbone" of the garden.
• Ponds: Two large, perfectly round ponds are located symmetrically on either side of the central axis. They are surrounded by prime spots—the famous green chairs where Parisians and tourists love to sit.
• Network of Alleys: Parallel and perpendicular alleys divide the garden into even square-"rooms," each with its own character.
• Terraces: The garden is elevated relative to the Seine embankment, offering a beautiful view of the river and the Left Bank. On the other side, it borders the huge Louvre square.
Attractions: Art Under the Open Sky
The Tuileries is also a museum of sculpture under the open sky.
• Sculptures: Copies of works by famous masters (the originals are housed in the Louvre)—Aristide Maillol, Auguste Rodin, Alberto Giacometti—are placed throughout the garden. Walking among them is like visiting a free exhibition.
• Musée de l`Orangerie: Located in the western part of the garden, near the Place de la Concorde. It is famous for its two oval rooms with giant panoramic paintings of Claude Monet`s "Water Lilies," as well as a collection of works by Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists (Renoir, Cézanne, Picasso, Matisse).
• Galerie nationale du Jeu de Paume: Opposite the Orangerie. A modern exhibition center dedicated to contemporary art, photography, and media art.
• Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel: Built by Napoleon in 1808 to commemorate his victories. It stands between the Louvre and the garden, fitting perfectly into the historic axis.
• Fountains and Carousel: Two elegant fountains by the ponds create a serene atmosphere, and an old two-story carousel adds charm and children`s laughter to the park.
The Tuileries Garden is beautiful at any time of the year, but it is especially magical at sunset, when the golden light paints the stone of the Louvre and the sculptures, and the city lights begin to ignite on the Champs-Élysées. This is a place where you can physically feel the pulse of Paris—a city that remembers its kings, revolutionaries, artists, and simple dreamers sitting on chairs by the water.
