The fountains displayed the King’s victory over nature
Louis XIV is estimated to have blown around one third of the whole budget for his new palace on the gardens – and a big portion of this went on fountains and water features. These were not just designed to make the landscaped grounds more pleasing to the eye, though, of course, this was a nice bonus. Rather, they were designed to illustrate the wealth of the monarch. But, above all, the fountains were designed to show his power – after all, rivers and streams only flowed downhill, so by shooting water upwards, Louis XIV and his successors could demonstrate that they even had the power to defy nature.
In all, it’s estimated that some 1,400 fountains were installed in the vast grounds surrounding the Palace of Versailles. Of these, around 600 are still around to this day (over the centuries many were simply dismantled and sold off to finance wars). Some of the most notable water features include the Neptune Fountain, with its 99 jets, and the Dragon Fountain. But perhaps the most famous of all is the Apollo Fountain. While there was already a water feature on this site, in 1636, Louis XIV had it taken down and replaced with the lavish depiction of Apollo riding his chariot. The Ancient Greek deity was the Sun God and was the French King’s icon and inspiration. It was this fountain Louis most liked to show off to his guests – adding to the myth that he himself might have been the reincarnation of the Sun God.
For their time, the fountains at Versailles were marvels of engineering. Men of science would come from many miles away to marvel at the ingenious hydraulic systems that sent water streams flying into the air. Some of these hydraulic systems are even used to this day. These days, however, the fountains are turned on far more regularly. Back in the 17th century, they were only really turned on for special occasions, above all when the King had esteemed visitors or wanted to really make a show of wealth and power.