Tuesday, April 10, 2018

The Gardens of Versailles



From The Vancouver Sun:
The Gardens of Versailles are an extension of the Palace of Versailles and are situated on 800 hectares of land just outside Paris. Versailles is one of the most-visited sites in France with over six million guests each year.

King Louis XIII purchased the land from Jean-François de Gondi in 1632. Claude Mollet and Hilaire Masson are credited for the original layout and design, which remained in place until it garnered the attention of Louis XIV, who, with the help of architect Louis Le Vau, painter Charles Le Brun and landscape architect André Le Nôtre, created these truly legendary gardens.

As Louis XIV expanded the Château de Versailles, the gardens evolved into something the world at that time had never seen. The addition of magnificent fountains that operated through hydraulic systems and gravity, and the creation of the Grand Canal, which covers 23 hectares, were far ahead of the times. Along with stunning sculptures, manicured parterres and an orangery, these features were the key ingredients that set these gardens apart from anything else in the world. (Read more.)
The Temple of Love at Petit Trianon
Share

No comments: