 | Versailles Basins, fountains and statues Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 75 |  |
As I descended from the central terrace of the Chateau Versailles, I found Gaspard Marsy's masterpiece, the Fountain of Latona, which portrays the goddess Latona with her children, Diana and Apollo. The trio stood atop concentric basins which rose up in the form of a pyramid.
It was really too bad I was there on a weekday.This wonderful fountain would have filled with water had I been there on a Sunday......
Photo Tip: Take note of the little froggies in the fountain. If you're wondering why they're there, refer to Ovid's Heroides. Yup, Gd ol' Goddess Latona turned the Lycian peasants into frogs when they refused her water. I don't know about the turtles and alligators though, those things occupy the lower tier of the fountain. Maybe those were folks who refused her a hotel room. Leave a Comment
|
Visiting Versailles?
Read reviews about Versailles Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
As I walked down alongside the Green Carpet, I was led to the famous Fountain of Apollo. It was truly a work of art and I believe it would been quite a sight if water were gushing out from the fountain to propel Apollo's carriage from the waters! This sculpture was done by Jean-baptiste Tuby in a, ahem, humble reference to the almighty Louis XIV.
Since I missed the fountain display shows, here's the timing for you to take note before coming here!
Fountain display (Grandes Eaux) times
Sunday afternoons from mid-April through mid-October
Night Display with Fireworks (Fêtes de Nuit )
Saturday nights in July and September
COST
EUR3,
EUR6 for Sun.
Free for Passport Holders Leave a Comment Phone: 01-30-83-78-88
|
Louis XIV hired a dream team of designers, architects and garderners to create a trump tower from a humble hunting chateau.Of course, an operation of this magnitude took the designers a long time to complete. But when it was done in 1682, it became the official Royal Residence instead of the Lourve in Paris.
Your first sight of the Versailles would probably be that of the immense cobble-stoned courtyard. Pause for a while instead of scurrying to find the entrance. Look around and be fascinated by intricate details such as the Gothic Fountainhead not too far from the main gate..
Wanna know whose statue you'll see as you explore the courtyard? Click here to find out. Leave a Comment
|
Now that you've seen a potrait of Louis XVI, picture him sitting down on his throne. Surrounding the throne are more of the golden statuettes created for his wedding. Lavish wedding presents comissioned by his old man (Louis XV) for his wedding to the most hated queen in history, Marie Antoinette. The married bliss did not last for too long. The young couple were only in their 30's when they were sent to the gallows by an angry mob.
Read on to see the Long Room of Battle Scenes or click here Leave a Comment
|
Are you still thinking what I mentioned earlier? Yes, the Sun King was green with ENVY at one point in his life and it was one of those things that led to the creation of Versailles...
The King had just attended the mother of all house-warming parties thrown by his Finance minister, Nicholas Fouquet and it left him with a rotten mood.
Not only was he was miffed by the gold dust that fell into his wig when the fireworks exploded into the sky, but he was really, really , annoyed that his Minister's house, the "Vaux-le-Vicomte" looked so beautiful!
Not to be outdone, the young King threw his minister in jail, recruited the same design team that did "Vaux-le-Vicomte" ( architect Le Vau, painter Le Brun, and gardener Le Nôtre ) and ordered something a hundred times the size! The result was Versailles...
You're now looking at a picture of the fabulous Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte that I mentioned. The Trump Tower of the 17th century, the sumptuous castle that turned Louis XIV pea green with envy. Well, having said that, the Versailles does bear a strong resemblance to the Vicomte. Check out the fountain and the statues.. You can decide for yourself by checking out the pictures in the provided link or taking a trip 55km south of Paris...
Read on to see the interior of the Versailles or click here Leave a Comment
|
 | |  |
Visiting Versailles?
Read reviews about Versailles Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
As you enter the State Apartments, the first grand piece of architecture you'll see at ground level that you'll see is the Royal Chapel. That is where Louis XIV and his descendents attended the daily religious service, an important event checked in his palm top if he had one.
The chapel is quite an awesome sight. More so, if you can imagine pipe organ music floating to the lofty ceilings and flowing around the strinkingly white chapel with gold sculptures...
Historical Tip : The chapel was designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, a chappie who was way ahead of his time. He belived in a fusion of styles, Gothic, Baroque and elegant 1700 architecture. Unfortunately, the poor sod died before the chapel was consecrated in 1710.
Read on to see the famous Hall of Mirrors or click here Leave a Comment
|
| | |
Ok, I know the man in the picture looks nothing like the dude (Leonardo Dicaprio) who acted as the King in the "Man in the Iron Mask" but he's the real Louis XIV I've been talking about.
The Sun King (Le Roi Soleil) , Louis the Great, the greatest King in France, etc, etc. Yes, the chap whom you see in the fluffy wig and high heels reigned for a good seventy -two years. And while he was at it, the influence and power of France grew and its economy prospered, allowing him to build the grand Versailles..
Click here to find out more about King Louis and the real reason why he built the Versailles Palace. Leave a Comment
|
Welcome to my Versailles page! Of course, before I show you the present day pictures, let's take a step back in time to 1623. Yup, some 40 years before the Mother of all Palaces was built, it was orginally a 'hunting lodge, a little gentleman's chateau' of brick, stone, and slate.
It was until till almost 40 years later, that the Louis XIV transformed it into Chateau de Versailles, one of grandest palaces in the whole of Europe....
Keen to see Louis XIV in high heels?Read on or Click here Leave a Comment
|
Well since I mentioned Marie Antoinette, its appropriate that I mention Mr Marie Antoinette right? In case you don't know, he's Louis XVI and he was also beheaded and accused of betraying the state. The poor chap, like his missus, gallantly faced up to his charges and was killed before his people in Paris.
Here's a picture of his potrait and a golden lamp statuette(one of many) that was specially created for his wedding.
Read on to see the Long Room of Battle Scenes or click here Leave a Comment
|
After taking snapshots of the bronze green statue of the Sun King in the courtyard, you must be ready to see the real thing by now.
Head for entrance marked B2 if you're a smart ass and have bought the musuem passport already. If not, join the long queues in A2. Click here to see where I bought my musuem passport
Read on to see the famous Hall of Mirrors or click here Leave a Comment
|
|
|
on November 5, 2004
