Luxembourg Palace facts for kids

The building while home of Gaston, Duke of Orléans.

Panorama of the gardens.

The Luxembourg Palace (known in French as the Palais du Luxembourg) is a former royal palace in Paris, France. Since 1958 it has been the seat of the French Senate of the Fifth Republic.

Brief history

The palace was originally built in 1612 by Marie de' Medici on lands she owned. The design was based on buildings from her native Florence. The building is often compared to the far larger Palazzo Pitti where Queen Marie was born in 1575. In 1642, Marie left the Luxembourg to her second and favourite son, Gaston, Duke of Orléans. He called it the Palais d'Orléans but it was still known by its original name. Upon Gaston's death, the palace passed to his widow, Marguerite of Lorraine. Then it passed to his elder daughter by his first marriage, La Grande Mademoiselle.

In 1660, Anne de Montpensier sold the Luxembourg to her younger half-sister, Élisabeth Marguerite d'Orléans, Duchess of Guise. The Duchess, in turn, gave it to her cousin, king Louis XIV, in 1694. In 1717 Philippe, Duke of Orléans, Regent of France gave the palace to his favourite daughter the Duchess of Berry. The building became infamous for the duchess's parties. She also hosted Peter the great there in 1717.

Sometime after the French Revolution it became a prison. During World War II it was a headquarters for the Luftwaffe.

Images for kids

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  The Luxembourg Palace was modeled after Palazzo Pitti in Florence at the request of Marie de Médicis.

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  Ceiling of the Salle du Livre d'Or

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  Floor plan (1752) shows the large enclosed cour d'honneur and the long Rubens gallery in the right wing

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  Plan of the corp de logis from 1804 to 1836 with the old senate chamber

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  Chalgrin's grand staircase

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  Plan showing Gisors' garden wing and senate chamber (gray) and Chalgrin's grand staircase (blue)

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  Library ceiling with Dante's Inferno by Delacroix

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  Salle des Conférences

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  View of the south facade and the garden basin

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  View from the Luxembourg Gardens

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  At sunset

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  Senate chamber

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  Grand staircase

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  View from south

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  Clock

See also

In Spanish: Palacio del Luxemburgo para niños