Les Grandes Eaux Musicales à Versailles #2

The "bassin de Latone" was designed by André Le Nôtre, sculpted by Gaspard and Balthazar Marsy, and constructed between 1668–1670. The fountain depicts an episode from Ovid´s "Metamorphoses": When Leto (Latone) was wandering the earth after giving birth to Apollo and Artemis, she attempted to drink water from a pond in Lycia. The peasants there refused to allow her to do so by stirring the mud at the bottom of the pond. Leto turned them into frogs for their inhospitality, forever doomed to swim in the murky waters of ponds and rivers.

Le Château de Versailles #9

The Palace is hiding behind another sculpture by Bernar Venet. You can find an interview with the artist about the exhibition at Versailles here (I love his English!).

Le Château de Versailles #8

The view from the Apollo Basin towards the Versailles Palace.

Le Château de Versailles #7

Until November 1st you can still see seven monumental sculptures by French artist Bernar Venet in the garden of Versailles Palace. The first one welcomes you on Place des Armes in front of the palace and embraces a monument to the "Sun King" Louis XIV.

Le Château de Versailles #6

The Palace seen from the garden on a cold and rainy afternoon in November.

Le Château de Versailles #5

When I was at the Palace of Versailles in November 2010, there was an exhibition of 22 eye-catching sculptures of Japanese artist Takashi Murakami. I liked the contrast between the old and the new, but I guess not everybody shared my opinion...

Le Château de Versailles #4

The hall of mirrors or Grand Gallery served as passageway and a waiting and meeting place, frequented by courtiers and the visiting public. It was only used for ceremonies on ecceptional occasions, when sovereigns wanted to lend splendour to diplomatic receptions or distractions on the occasion of princely weddings. It was also here that the treaty of Versailles was signed on 28th June 1919 which sealed the end of the First World War.

Le Château de Versailles #3

The construction of the Royal Chapel started in 1689, in 1710 it was finally consecrated. During the 18th century it witnessed many court events, as for instance the wedding of Louis XVI to Marie-Antoinette. This photo shows the chapel from the "tribune royale" where the king and members of the royal family heard the mass.

Le Château de Versailles #2

Le Château de Versailles #1

This week I´m taking you to the Palace of Versailles. As of 1661 Louis XIV (the "Sun King", 1638-1715) transformed and expanded his father´s hunting lodge and over the following decades had it expanded into one of the largest palaces in the world. In 1682 the court and government of France moved to Versailles.