The garden was named after the tile factories (tuileries) that previously occupied the site before Catherine de' Medici built the Tuileries Palace in 1564.
During the French Revolution, the park was the site of the 'Festival of the Supreme Being,' a major political-religious event organized by Robespierre.
It contains two distinct ponds, the Grand Bassin Rond and the Grand Bassin Octogonal, which serve as focal points for the garden's symmetry.
The palace that once bordered the garden was burned down during the Paris Commune in 1871 and was never rebuilt.
The garden follows the historical 'Grand Axe' of Paris, which runs from the Louvre to the Arc de Triomphe.
The trees in the garden are meticulously pruned to maintain a uniform, boxy aesthetic characteristic of the 17th-century French style.
The Tuileries Garden is a 22-hectare public park located between the Louvre Museum and the Place de la Concorde in central Paris. Designed in 1664 by André Le Nôtre, the landscape architect for Versailles, it remains a definitive example of a formal French garden. The grounds feature a strict geometric layout of gravel paths, manicured lawns, and tree-lined quincunxes. It serves as an open-air museum, hosting a significant collection of sculptures ranging from 17th-century works to modern installations by Aristide Maillol and Auguste Rodin. The garden connects the Louvre's Cour Carrée to the Concorde through the Grand Axe. Two major institutions, the Musée de l'Orangerie and the Galerie nationale du Jeu de Paume, are situated at the garden's western end near the Seine. The park remains under the management of the Louvre Museum administration.
The edge of the Grand Bassin Octogonal looking toward the Louvre museum for a symmetrical architectural shot.
Use the iconic green metal chairs found around the basins; they are movable and allow you to sit wherever you prefer.
Visit the Musée de l'Orangerie located at the southwest corner if you wish to see Monet's Water Lilies murals.
The central gravel paths can be dusty and reflect significant heat; prioritize the tree-lined side paths during peak sun.
Do not expect a naturalistic or 'wild' park experience; this is a highly controlled, artificial landscape.
Avoid walking on the flower beds or manicured lawn sections where signs indicate restricted access.
