Jardin des Tuileries
The gardens beside the Louvre. The trees are just beginning to turn yellow.
Jardin des Tuileries, or Tuileries Gardens, are located between the Louvre and the Place de Concorde. They were created by Catherine de Medicis in 1564 to compliment the Tuileries Palace. The palace was burned in 1870 by members of the Paris Commune, but the gardens, through strife and monarchy, remain. Tuileries means “workshops,” which is what occupied this area before the gardens came along.
The gardens were modeled from those in Florence, and were the most beautiful in Paris. They were opened to the public on a limited basis as early as 1667, but did not become a public park until after the Revolution.
Under a row of trees in the Tuileries Gardens.
On the grounds of the Louvre, with topiaries and sculpture.
We popped over to the Louvre to walk around the vast plaza. We weren’t going inside today, but we’re going to check out the I.M. Pei pyramids. I feel like I shouldn’t like these intruders, but I do.
The I. M. Pei pyramid at the Louvre. I think it works.
Mel Beside I.M. Pei's pyramids outside the Louvre.
We strolled through the formal gardens, discovering the random contemporary art throughout the park.
A vaginal fountain in the formal Tuileries Gardens. Unsure of the message.
The RGB Booth smack in the middle of the Tuileries Gardens. Alters your perception.
Wind vanes in a fountain at the Tuileries Gardens.
At the west end of the gardens, there is a terrace that overlooks the Place de Concorde. We arrived as afternoon was giving way to evening. The view of the Eiffel Tower was stupendous, with it’s top half obscured by the low-lying clouds. We sat and gazed at the view for about an hour.
The Eiffel Tower disappears into the clouds on this rainy day.
The Tour Eiffel on a foggy day. At no time, and under no condition, is the Eiffel Tower anything but sublime.
Paris's beacon, the searchlight atop the Eiffel Tower, stretches to the horizon and is visible all over the city.
The hourly light show, when thousands of strobe lights shine like diamonds on the Eiffel Tower.