Apollo's Fountain

Whether of lead, stone or bronze, Versailles' fountains produce sculptures of water. The story of Apollo illustrates the solar myth and governs the subjects of statues and fountains along the main axis of the gardens.

The grounds were laid out geometrically around a main axis, secondary axes, radiating pathways, and circular pools known as bassins.

Everything was symmetrical. Trees were rigourously pruned to create a veritable architecture of vegetation. Closer to the chateau were flowerbeds, or parterres, wich would not mask its architectural features and could be enjoyed from the upper floor. Every turn in a pathway presents new vistas, new fountains, new statues, trellised arbours, and trees trained and pruned into unusual shapes.

When walking along a path, the existence of these marvels remains totally unsuspected.