La Fontaine de Médicis

Hidden behind trees in a corner of le Jardin du Luxembourg is La fontaine de Médicis. Marie de Medici commissioned this fountain for the garden. The architect modeled after a grotto in Florence where she walked as a child. She did not have much of an opportunity to walk along this fountain. At the time of its completion, Marie was deeply involved in royal political intrigues that endangered her life and resulted in her exile to Germany. This is now a peaceful shaded oasis in the corner of this popular park. This duck has found a use for this modern public sculpture that was placed in the fountain's basin. The sculpture is of a nude woman whose head and feet are submerged in the basin.

Intrepid French Sailor

Paris is located on the Seine river and does not have access to the sea or a lake. Pleasure craft (except for houseboats) are rarely seen in Paris on the Seine.This does not stop this from sailing his yacht on the central basin in le Jardin du Luxembourg.

These gardens are the largest park in Paris. They were constructed in the early seventeen century for Marie de Medici, the second wife of King Henry IV and mother of Louis XIII. She was of Italian descent, so the architect designed the palace in a Florentine style. The queen was unable to enjoy this park for long. Her son exiled her to Cologne shortly after the completion of the park.