About This Location
Pause at the edge of the garden and listen - within a few steps, the traffic fades and the mood changes. The Tuileries stretch between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde, forming a long, central ribbon of green right in the middle of Paris. Look straight down the main path. The clear lines, trimmed trees, and wide open views are not accidental - this is a garden designed to feel grand and controlled, like an outdoor hallway for the city. It began in 1564 as the private garden of Catherine de’ Medici, created beside the palace she built here. Later, in the 17th century, André Le Nôtre reshaped it into the formal style that still defines the central axis today. The name “Tuileries” comes from an older Paris that is easy to miss now. This area once held tile workshops - tuiles in French - long before it became a royal address. Over time, the garden shifted from a protected court space into a public one, and that change still shapes the feeling here: elegant, but shared. Notice the small Paris ritual all around you - the green metal chairs. They are meant to be moved, so people chase the sun, turn toward the pond, or angle themselves for a view. Around the basins, children sail toy boats, and the simple sound of water makes the whole place feel slower. Keep an eye out for the statues lining the paths. The Tuileries work like an open-air gallery, with sculpture appearing between hedges and tree trunks as you walk. Two museum buildings sit inside the garden as well. The Musée de l’Orangerie is famous for Claude Monet’s Water Lilies - huge panels designed to surround visitors in soft light. Nearby, the Jeu de Paume hosts changing exhibitions, often linked to photography and contemporary art. This is one of the best places in Paris to feel the city’s layers at once: royal history under your feet, museum-quality art beside the paths, and everyday life happening on chairs that can be dragged into the perfect patch of sun.