Gardens f Versailles

   VersaillesGardens     

This is a view of the most famous part of the gardens of Versailles, on the side of the palace opposite the main entrance.

This standard shot (the one taken by jillions of tourists) shows, from foreground to background, the Bassin and Parterre de Latone (all the stuff in the foreground), the Allée Royale or Tapis Vert (“green carpet”—the long strip of green behind the foreground), and the Grand Canal, an enormous man-made lake—the far end is almost two kilometres away. There is a stairway just in front of the fountain in the foreground, but in most photographs (including this one), it’s hard to see—the fountain is actually about six metres lower and further away than it appears (look closely).

Unlike the shots you see in postcards, this photograph shows the gardens as they really appear—tourists and all. Many of them are taking pictures, just as I am. I didn’t have anyone pose for me, though.

The fountains at Versailles (including those of the Bassin de Latone, in the foreground) usually only run on Sundays and special occasions. At those times, you have to pay a small fee to enter the gardens; the rest of the time, the admission is free. This was taken on a Tuesday, so the fountains weren’t running.

Every one of the sculptures you see ornamenting the grounds is famous to some extent or another. In winter, they are covered with canvas to protect them from the cold.

Way off in the distance, on the Grand Canal, you can just barely see people rowing around in boats, which you can rent at a small dock on the left at the near end of the canal. There’s also a restaurant, bicycle-rental place, ice-cream vendor, and toilets off to the left of the near end of the canal.

Photographed on August 24, 1999.