Large round basin, Fountain in Tuileries Garden, France

The Large Round Basin is the eastern of the two circular basins in the Tuileries Garden, set on the axis running from the Louvre to the Place de la Concorde. It is bordered by a stone rim, and around it stand eight statues of seated figures and four groups of wrestlers, cast in the 18th century from antique marbles.

The Grand Bassin Rond is the oldest feature of the Tuileries Garden, laid out from 1564 for Catherine de' Medici's new palace by the gardener Pierre Le Nôtre, grandfather of André. André Le Nôtre, who took over the garden in 1664, kept the round basin as the pivot of his east-west axis. It was dug up and re-edged in the 19th century, and the present stone rim dates from that restoration.

The basin is the traditional setting for the Tuileries' toy sailboat rental, a pastime documented in the garden since the 19th century. Green metal chairs, movable and free to use, are scattered around the rim for visitors who come to watch the boats or simply sit by the water.

The basin remains accessible during garden hours from early morning until evening, with extended hours until 11 PM during summer months. The surrounding area offers plenty of space to walk around and find a spot to sit.

The basin sits on the axis that runs from the Louvre through the Tuileries toward the Place de la Concorde, so its still surface lines up with the garden's central perspective. Visitors often overlook that the round pool marks one end of this sightline rather than standing alone as a decorative feature.