Sailing Dreams: Toy Yachts of the Paris Luxembourg Garden.
In the Paris Jardin du Luxembourg – the Luxembourg Garden – is a simple spectacle that has delighted children for generations — toy yachts in the water of the park’s historic pond. This man-made pond, known as the Grand Bassin, is more than just a water feature; it is a tradition.
Since the late 19th century, the Grand Bassin has served as a playground for young sailors to set their miniature vessels adrift. These small wooden yachts, adorned with bright sails, have long been a fixture of the garden. While modern battery-powered boats exist, many visitors still opt for the traditional handcrafted sailboats, which local vendors rent out by the hour. Each boat is wind-driven, and children chase their craft along the pond’s edge, often with wooden sticks, nudging them back into the breeze when needed.
Situated in the middle of the Luxembourg Garden, the Grand Bassin is surrounded by manicured lawns, flowering terraces, and statues. The pond is shallow, making it safe for play, yet expansive enough to allow the boats to drift and glide naturally.
Architect Jean-Francis-Thérèse Chalgrin designed the Luxembourg Garden’s octagonal Grand Bassin in 1813 during the First French Empire. Chalgrin also worked on the Arc de Triomphe. The inspiration for the Grand Bassin can be traced back to Queen Marie de’ Medici’s original plans to have a pond in her own garden when she lived in the Luxembourg Palace. In 1612 she began the creation of the Luxembourg Palace garden with the aim of replicating the Italian Renaissance landscapes.
In 1792, during the French Revolution (1789-1799), the private royal Luxembourg Palace garden became a public garden. After the monarchy was overthrown, the revolutionary government seized the palace and its garden, opening the grounds to the public. Over the following years, the garden was modified with additions in Engish-style and French-style landscaping, sculptures, foundations, and the Grand Bassin pond.
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