Les Grandes Eaux Musicales (The Musical Water Fountains of Versailles)

Though some of the water fountains of Versailles may be not be impressive by today’s standards, it is impressive to think that in a era where indoor plumbing and running water were not a standard in homes that Versailles had 34 fountains and to operate them a river had to be re-routed. These fountains were only possible because of new technology developed and commissioned by French King Louis XIV also known as the Sun King. These fountains were created much like kids placing their thumb over a water hose and creating a spray. It was rumored that the water supply was so low that the fountains were only run when the King was within eyesight of them. This might explain the limited operation of the fountains which is only on the weekends in the summer during certain hours. Little has been done to alter this technology and the pipes used then have never been replaced and that is impressive.

From the granite slab patio near the Chateau you can see distant fountains shooting up like a whale’s spout above the shrubbery sea. We made a day of waltzing to the Baroque music played in the vast maze of manicured shrubbery and stumbling upon all the fountains hidden in rooms of shrubbery. Some of the geyser-like fountains were integrated into the golden sculptures of Bachus, Apollo or Neptune and often surrounded by large reflecting pools and evenly stepped waterfalls. While today many gardens are designed to look like they might in nature, the fountains and gardens of Versailles were a sculptured and manicured and nature tamed by human will. Even the smells of the garden were enhanced by artificially perfuming the air to lure you closer to the spray. A custom used during the Sun King’s reign and it was heavenly.