This temporary sculpture exhibition was part of the 4-day international contemporary art fair called FIAC, which attracted thousands of art-lovers from all over the world. The Tuileries Gardens extend from the courtyard of the Musée du Louvre and spans width-wise from the Seine River to rue de Rivoli. Opposite the Louvre at the other end of the park is the Place de la Concorde, which is where you will find a giant Ferris Wheel and an an actual Egyptian obelisk that marks the spot of Marie Antoinette’s execution. This intersection is also where the famed Champs-Elysées boulevard begins and continues northwest toward l’Arc de Triomphe.

The Tuileries Gardens is one of my favorite places to walk in Paris and is especially good for people watching. Though it is not the true center of the city, in my mind, it serves as a central point of reference. It’s easy to access just off the Metro (Line 1) with its own stop and is conveniently across rue de Rivoli from Angelina’s, my favorite place for hot chocolate.

Interestingly, while my neighborhood Parc Monceau is a decidedly English Romantic style garden (technically called French picturesque) complete with faux ruins, the Tuileries were born of Catherine de Medicis’ desire for a Florentine style garden, a tribute to her homeland. I have been particularly fond of Catherine’s era in French history ever since 10th grade when I saw the film Queen Margot, which depicts the story of Catherine’s daughter and sons in the time of the French Wars of Religion. The film gave flesh and glamour to the dry history, and if you find the period as compelling as I do, I highly recommend seeing it, along with the soon-to-be released film La princesse de Montpensier which takes place during the same time, with an equally gorgeous cast of actors. (See my post featuring Gaspard Ulliel’s Chanel ad.) Perhaps my predisposition for the period renders an affinity for the garden, which, incidentally, was the site of the celebration of Queen Margot’s marriage to Henri of Navarre.

Unaware of its historic past, I spent an afternoon in the Tuileries photographing some of the sculptures on display for FIAC, and clandestinely snapping shots of some of the more colorfully dressed visitors. Art makes for a good cover!