around MUSÉE DU LUXEMBOURG 8MUSÉE ZADKINE A major figure of the École de Paris, Ossip Zadkine lived and worked in this studio- home from 1928 to 1967. Situated on the boundary between Saint-Germain and Montparnasse, the museum boasts six rooms presenting the different materials JARDIN used by the sculptor; a lush garden, where visitors can admire several bronze statues; & MUSÉE and the studio where Zadkine and his wife worked for some 40 years. DU LUXEMBOURG 100 bis rue d’Assas (6th).M Notre-Dame-o des-Champs. 01 55 42 77 20. Reopening scheduled for Nov 2020. Daily: 10am-6pm, except Mon and some public holidays. The elegant Luxembourg Gardens, created Permanent collections free. Charge for for Queen Marie de Medici, take their inspi- temporary exhibitions. www.zadkine.paris.fr ration from the Boboli Gardens in Florence. Some one hundred or so statues are scat- tered throughout the grounds, which are part French formal garden and part Eng- lish garden. There are plenty of activities and attractions for children: puppet shows, merry-go-rounds, slides, little sailing boats, etc. Adults, Parisians and tourists alike, can enjoy a game of chess, tennis or bridge. 9 SAINT-GERMAIN-DES-PRÉS One of the gardens’ more curious features A visit to the area should begin with the is the beehive, created in 1856; at the end church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Its tower of September, the honey produced is sold. and nave constitute some of the oldest The cultural programme consists of free Parisian vestiges of Romanesque architec- photography exhibitions, displayed on the ture (11th and 12th centuries). Music lovers park railings, and concerts in the bandstand. will appreciate the rich musical programme. Recline on one of the wrought-iron chairs Amongst the luxury boutiques and art gal- arranged around the large ornamental pond leries that make the area so lively, take a and admire the facade of the Palais du Lux- seat on one of the terraces of the area’s embourg, the seat of the Sénat (the upper most famous cafes: the Café de Flore, the house of the French parliament). Before Deux Magots, and the brasserie Lipp, the or after this bucolic interlude, head to the meeting places of artists and intellectuals Musée du Luxembourg and discover one of since the early 20th century. its two annual exhibitions, highlights of the 6th. M Saint-Germain-des-Prés.o Paris cultural season! • MUSÉE DU LUXEMBOURG: DID YOU KNOW? 19 rue de Vaugirard (6th). M Saint-Sulpice.o 01 40 13 62 00. The iconic green chairs in the Luxem- Daily, except 1 May, 25 Dec and outside bourg Gardens were created in 1923! At exhibition periods. Opening times and rates that time, they had to be rented to sit vary according to exhibitions, contact for on. The current model, made in France information. https://museeduluxembourg.fr by Fermob since 1990, exists in 24 differ- ent colours. THE LEFT BANK | 37