Audio GuideJardin du Palais Royal
Landscaped grounds of a 17th century palace with a large fountain, tree-lined walkways & flowerbeds.
Park
Paris, France
Welcome to Jardin du Palais-Royal, a historic gem nestled in Paris’s first arrondissement. This elegant garden was first established nearly four centuries ago and commissioned by Cardinal Richelieu. Its original design was created by royal gardener Pierre Desgotz, and it later evolved under the reign of Charles X into the layout we appreciate today.
The garden is surrounded by four galleries under arcades, named Montpensier, Beaujolais, Valois, and Galerie de Chartres, which frame the space and add a distinctive architectural character that is both welcoming and steeped in history. Over time, the garden also showcased notable statues such as Le Charmeur de Serpent and Le Pâtre et la Chèvre, creations of celebrated artists that, though in poor condition today, once enhanced its artistic aura.
One charming highlight is the petit canon, a small bronze cannon from the late eighteenth century that originally marked noon by using sunlight along the Paris Meridian. Now it ceremoniously fires every Wednesday at midday under controlled conditions. In addition, visitors will delight in the Wallace fountain and a commemorative plaque honoring brave Czech volunteers from World War One.
Often featured in films from the fifties through to modern blockbusters like Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Jardin du Palais-Royal offers travelers a blend of living history, graceful design, and enduring cultural impact.
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