The fontaine Médicis of the Jardin du Luxembourg, part II !!!

Posted in Europe, France, Paris

I like to tell you more about this magnificent garden and beautiful fountain after finding me newer pictures in my cd rom vault that need to be in my blog for you and me, This of course, is the Jardin du Luxembourg of my eternal Paris, Do read my many posts on the garden in my blog, I have great memories of stopping off a bus while going to my office and “killing” some time wandering in the garden, of course, not always taking pictures. This is one of the most popular spots in the city and for good reasons me think, Therefore, let me tell you again on the fontaine Médicis of the Jardin du Luxembourg, part II !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I

The fountain Médicis is done like a cave, with a facade 14 meters high and 12 meters wide, intended to hide the buildings on Rue d’Enfer, near which it was located. It includes three niches, separated by four columns of Tuscan style. A pediment decorated with the arms of France and the Medicis overhangs it, and framed by two lying allegorical figures, the Rhone and the Seine rivers. From the 17C to the beginning of the 19C, the basin or pool located in front of the central cave does not include water games, The cave is initially installed in the Luxembourg garden, in the perspective of the alley between the Porte des Carmes and the Rue d’Enfer, thus skirting the south facade of the palace (now Senate of France).

The statuary is also renovated in the central niche, the statue of Venus is replaced by a group of three mythological characters entitled Polyphemus  surprising Galatea in the arms of Acis, Polyphemus, legendary cyclops, is in love with Galatea, young and beautiful sea nymph. Crouching on a rock, an animal skin on its back, it observes Galatea in the arms of Acis, ready to kill its rival with a rock The couple is languidly lying at the edge of the water. The contrast is striking between the enormous and dark mass of the cyclops and the whiteness of the pair of two young people. In addition, the very shape of the basin provides the illusion that the body of water is tilted. In the side niches are placed two statues of fauna and hunting. The rear facade of the fountain is also redeveloped alongside the Léda fountain, formerly located at the corner of rue du Regard and rue du Vaugirard, removed by the drilling of rue de Rennes. This second fountain includes a bas-relief made in 1807; and it is surmounted by a half-couple and a pediment, on which are lying two statues of naiads.

The legend of these unfortunate lovers was very famous in the 17C. In 1686, Jean-Baptiste Lully composed the opera Acis et Galatée. This grandiose pastoral was performed for the first time in front of the Grand Dauphin, son of Louis XIV. In many mythologies, the fountain is linked to the cult of trees, mysterious waters and sacred stones. A territory domesticated by man, it is also a door to the invisible. The Medici Fountain is a place of rest and romantic stroll appreciated by all. Everything seems magic: the plane trees with green gold foliage which are reflected in the water, the colorful fish, the shimmers and shadows, the voluptuous gestures of lovers whose marble skin is sometimes so alive ; it can be magical!

You can imagine , the Médicis fountain is very popular. The quickest entrance to it is by the Place Edmond Rostang  off rue de Médicis  with the water fountain on your back and can see the Panthéon (see post). You can get there other than walking by metro line 4 and 10 Odéon station , line 10 Mabillon station, and line 4 Saint-Germain-des-Prés station ; Also, RER B Luxembourg-Sénat station and several buses but mine was exclusively right to the fountain on no 82,right by the Porte de Médicis gate.

The Senate of France on the Fontaine Médicis: https://jardin.senat.fr/en/history-heritage/heritage/the-medici-fountain.html

The Paris tourist office on the Jardin du Luxembourg:  https://parisjetaime.com/eng/culture/jardin-du-luxembourg-p1063

There you go folks, this is the magic of Paris, always Paris. The Jardin du Luxembourg is an integral part of this dream city, the most beautiful in the world,The Médicis fountain is an integral part of this beautiful City to the world.  Again, hope you enjoy this post on the fontaine Médicis in the Jardin du Luxembourg, part II !!! as I.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

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Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

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