This thoroughfare is the most celebrated of the left bank, and curves across three districts from The Ile Saint Louis to the Pont de la Concorde. The architecture is homogeneous because the Boulevard was another of Baron Haussmann's bold strokes of 19th century urban planning. Jardins and Palais du Luxembourg : With its statuary, formal gravel paths and benches, the Luxembours is the quintessential Paris park. Most unusual sights include an apiary, joggers and martial art practitioners. Tennis courts, pétanque pitches, a basketball hoop, pony rides and puppet shows add to the fun. At weekends in summer, the octagonal pond in front of the palace is surrounded by smartly dressed Parisian children bearing batons to guide the progress of their sailing boats.Fronting rue de Vaugirard, the Palais du luxembourg was designed by Salomon de Brosse in the early 17th century for Queen Mary de Medicis, the florentine wife of Henry IV. Today, the palace houses the French Senate. Address : main entrance corner of bd St. Michel and rue de Medicis, 6th. Open daily, dawn-dusk.