Established in 2004 by the Ministry of Culture and Communication, the Remarkable Garden label identifies, on a national scale, the gardens that are of historical, aesthetic or botanical interest.

© TISA. ARLES - The site is prettier - 2nd prize in the Wipplay competition

420 in number, they bear witness to the richness of the landscape heritage of all the regions of the metropolis and the overseas departments. Drawing on the notion of a “remarkable garden”, the exhibition intends to present the garden from a double angle, both artistic and heritage.

The first part anchors the exhibition in a site with an exceptional history: the Jardin du Luxembourg, host of the presentation. The Jardin du Luxembourg, from its historic sculptures to children's sailboats, has inspired the greatest photographers. Through a selection of images from the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries, a brief history of visitor behavior and practices is drawn, which constitute the soul of this emblematic place of Parisian life. A dozen photographs, largely from public funds of the Mediatheque of the heritage, thus return on the history of a garden which attracted the attention of artists like André Kertész, Eugène Atget or Willy Ronis.

The second part offers a photographic panorama of the “Remarkable Garden” label through the lens of photographer Jean-Baptiste Leroux, recognized in particular for his work on landscapes and heritage. From the garden, Jean-Baptiste Leroux captures above all the play of lights: over the days and the seasons, the garden, a living monument, reveals its thousand faces and opens the doors of the imagination. But the photographer, also playing with framing and scales, puts in image the primary definition of the garden, this enclosed space where data from nature and human will interact. Over sixty remarkable gardens are shown here through the eyes of Jean-Baptiste Leroux. From one image to another, the exhibition adopts the contours of a walk: the discovery of the landscape heritage of the territories is coupled with a journey through the photographer's images.

A third stage is reserved for the winners of the photographic competition organized from August 1 to October 12, 2016 nationwide on the WIPPLAY web platform, in partnership with Canon and A Nous Paris. Participative and civic, the exhibition invited the candidates to capture the beauty of a heritage that is familiar to them. The three winning photographs of the Jury Prize are displayed on the gates of the Jardin du Luxembourg.

Pratical information

  • Commissioner: Coline Zellal, heritage curator
  • inspection prices : free
  • access:
    • M ° St Sulpice or Mabillon
    • Luxembourg Rer B
    • Bus: 58; 84; 89; Museum stop
    • Luxembourg / Senate