Versailles in the Spring (part 2) with Fountains

Enjoy the videos of the fountains.  Each video is about 20-30 seconds so that it is easy to load and watch.  It was an incredible experience to see them.  I spoke with one of the staff and he told me that the sections with the hidden fountains are normally closed on the days that the garden is free.  I was glad that he said that because I could not figure out how in the world I missed these.  (I have only loaded one of the fountain videos here. It is late and I'll put in more on Monday. Check back then...)

We had lunch at La Flottille in the park.  It was a little chilly so we ate inside on the restaurant side.  (We were asked at the door: Snack or full lunch?)  Full lunch!!  We got to sit on the side with the grown-ups.

Olive tepanade to cleanse the palate.

Salade de Magrets fumes a la Framboise
(Salad...)

Yummy bread

Pose de Saumon roti, compolee a legumes et salade
(Salmon with a little side salad)

Entremet choco-framboise
Chocolate cake with raspberry

Extra treat that the waiter brought. Little desert muffins?
Chocolates for sure.

The entrance to the restaurant.

Here are just a few of the fountains.  The source of the descriptive text is the Chateau of Versailles website. Comments under photographs are mine.

Below: The Grove of Apollo's Bath

This grove, formerly called the Marsh, was laid out during the reign of Louis XIV, between 1670 and 1673, at the request of Mme de Montespan, it is said. In 1704, Jules Hardouin-Mansart designed for this place a new grove intended to host the groups of the Sun Horses and Apollo served by the Nymphs. These groups were sculpted between 1664 and 1672 to adorn the famous Grotto of Thetis, and when the latter was destroyed to build the north wing of the Château, it was transferred to the Grove of the Domes. Hardouin-Mansart then designed this place to highlight these particularly remarkable works. In 1776, one year after the order given by Louis XVI to replant the park, the painter Hubert Robert was commissioned to produce a new layout. The grove which he imagined, completed in 1778, was laid out in the then fashionable style of English-Chinese gardens. This one has survived to our day.

Below: The Grove of the Three Fountains



Latona Fountain and Parterre

Photos showing the Grove of Three Fountains without the water running.

This is from the base.  The garden is wider here than at the top
and this exagerates the perspective, making it appear longer
than it actually is.

The walls of the fountains and basins are embedded with shells
on grotto-ish looking walls.

The view from the top, looking down at the wider space,
shortens the perspective and makes the arrangement
look shorter than it is.

The middle fountain has several layers with waterfalls.

The fountains are hidden by walkways and the gates
are closed during non-viewing "free" days.

View of Latona Fountain and Parterre without the fountains running.