How to Visit Paris' Tuileries Gardens

The Tuileries Gardens, once part of the grounds of the Tuileries Palace--home to a long line of French rulers including Catherine de Medici and Napoleon--is located between the Louvre Museum and the Place de la Concorde in Paris. Today most of the palace is long gone, but the gardens remain as a delightful oasis in the middle of the city.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Uncover the remnants of the Tuileries Palace. The original Tuileries Palace, built by Catherine de Medici in 1694, burnt to the ground during the Commune of 1871. All that's visible of the palace today is a small piece of the foundation, located near the Place de la Concorde entrance near the Rue de Rivoli, and two of the original outbuildings, the Jeu de Paume (tennis court) and the Orangerie (greenhouse). Both are used as museums.
2. Stroll the tree-lined paths. The 64-acre Tuileries Gardens still closely follows the original 17th-century design laid out by Le Nôtre. Strolling amid the tree-lined walkways and elegant plantings is a relaxing way to unwind after a day of museum-hopping.
3. Join in a game of boules. Boules, a uniquely French form of lawn bowling, is a favorite pastime in the Tuileries, particularly with the older gentlemen. Watch them play or ask to join a game.
4. Watch the children ride the merry-go-round. The classic, 19th-century carousel in the Tuileries is a favorite of young and old. Watch the children ride the brightly-painted horse and listen to the calliope music.