Les Petits Bateaux du Jardin des Tuileries, playful sailboats to sail on the Grand Bassin

If the Jardin des Tuileries is emblematic of the capital, the Petits Bateaux des Tuileries are no less emblematic of the garden. Once you've discovered the adorable little Luxembourg sailboats, which children happily push from the park's basin, it's time to get in on the action and rent one of these little boats in the Jardin des Tuileries, just a few hundred meters from the famous Louvre pyramid.

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Inspired by the fishing boats found on French coasts in the 19th century, Petits Bateaux des Tuileries are designed and built in France, in a workshop located in the Paris region. True miniature vessels, they operate without a motor and are designed to be pushed by a rod given to each sailor.

The Little Boats are available for rent on Saturdays and Sundays during the school year, as well as every day during school holidays (Zone C), from April through November. The Little Boats will reopen starting from the Easter weekend in 2026, namely April 4, to welcome, for another year, a new generation of budding skippers at the Jardin des Tuileries. Expect to pay a few euros per boat for about half an hour.

A great activity to discover with the whole family at the Jardin des Tuileries: if you're looking for other things to do during your visit, follow the guide!

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