This garden stretches from the Louvre to the Place de la Concorde like a green carpet unrolled through the heart of Paris. Catherine de' Medici created it in 1564 as the garden for the Tuileries Palace, which no longer exists — it was burned down during the Paris Commune in 1871, and the ruins were eventually cleared. The garden survived, and it became the template for the formal French garden style that spread across Europe.
André Le Nôtre, the same genius who designed Versailles's gardens, redesigned the Tuileries in 1664. His vision was all about perspective, geometry, and the careful manipulation of sight lines. The central axis from the Louvre through the garden, down the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe, and on to La Défense is one of the longest and most famous urban vistas in the world — and it all started here, with Le Nôtre's alignment.
The garden is filled with sculpture, including works by Rodin, Giacometti, and Maillol. In the western half, near the octagonal fountain, the Jeu de Paume and the Orangerie museums sit at opposite ends of a terrace. The Jeu de Paume (literally "palm game" — the ancestor of tennis) was originally built as a court for the sport that evolved into modern tennis.
On warm days, Parisians claim the green metal chairs around the fountains, children sail toy boats, and the gravel paths fill with joggers and strollers. This was the first royal garden in Paris opened to the public, and it's been the city's living room ever since.
Verified Facts
Catherine de' Medici created the Tuileries Garden in 1564 as part of the Tuileries Palace grounds
André Le Nôtre redesigned the garden in 1664, establishing the formal French garden style
The Tuileries Palace was destroyed by fire during the Paris Commune in May 1871
The central axis from the Louvre through the Tuileries to La Défense is known as the "axe historique"
Get walking directions
Place de la Concorde, 8th Arr., Paris, 75001, France
