The
west side of the château faces the fabulous garden.
This is a view of part of the garden from the same location as the previous
picture. It looks toward the Grand Canal.
The
Fountain of Latona illustrates the legend of the mother of Apollo and Diana
protecting her children and imploring Jupiter to avenge her. The fountain looks
towards the Grand Canal.
The Fountain of Apollo is near the start of the Grand Canal.
This beautiful Pyramid Fountain is on the north side of the château on the way
to the Neptune Fountain. It is made of four marble bowls place on top of each
other and took three years to build. It is supported by lead tritons, dolphins,
and crayfish.
The walkway from the Pyramid Fountain is called Water Avenue. It
has twenty-two small fountains and a large cascading waterfall fountain know as
the Nymphs of Diana Bathing.
Water
Avenue leads to the Dragon Fountain, which depicts an episode from the legend of
Apollo. Python, the serpent slain by the arrow of the young Apollo, is
surrounded by dolphins
and cupids armed with bows and arrows riding on swans. The main water jet
reaches to a height of 89 feet.
At the end of Water Avenue is the Fountain of Neptune. Neptune
Fountain, then known as the pond below the Dragon, was built between 1679 and
1681. It was slightly modified in 1736 and sculptural decor was installed in
1740, consisting of three groups: Neptune and Amphitrite, Proteus,
and The god Oceanus. The fountain comprises ninety-nine water effects
forming a magnificent group. The fountains at the château are active for only a
few hours on the weekends. On the day we were there, hundreds of people were
sitting on the grass, listening to classical music, and enjoying Neptune's
beautiful affects.
Hoog, Simore, Gardens of Versailles. Versailles, France:
Art Lys.