Musical Fountains Show at the Palace of Versailles
Château de Versailles (Yvelines) by Daniel Jolivet
When the gardens of Versailles were constructed in the 1660’s, King Louis XIV required perfection. The gardens were highly organized and symmetrically shaped, and a set of 2,000 fountains and pools was installed to give the gardens further personality. Providing water to the palace itself was a daunting task, using 18 miles of hydraulics to achieve the vision. Utilizing those pumps to create a water show was perhaps the pinnacle of the project. A specific route was mapped out through the gardens that would allow King Louis XIV to take in the most of his creation, with fountains bursting to life while he meandered with guests through the gardens. Today, the fountain show is set to a tune. From March to November, visitors from all over the world come to see the fountains spout forth spectacular sprayings into the air as the powerful Baroque music lulls audiences into a sense of wonderment.