The Fountains Night Show at Versailles

Well, again, Michele recommended an exceptional event.  She helped us get tickets for The Fountains Night Show at the Chateau de Versailles.

It is a fountain, light and fireworks extravaganza in the gardens of the chateau.  We decided not to tour the Palace because we saw it on a previous trip, but we couldn't remember seeing all the gardens, so this was the perfect opportunity.   Louis XIV made the palace into the symbol of absolute monarchy.  It's the largest chateau in Europe.  He lodged 20,000 people at a time.  It is surrounded by the formal gardens with statues, canal, pools and more than a hundred fountains.  We met Michele at the train station for our trip to Versailles Saturday evening.

We had dinner outside in one of the local bistros in town and headed for the palace around 9pm.  The crowds were streaming in.

We got a map of the gardens.

We passed the Nymphs Bath on our way to the Neptune Fountain where the first water/music display began at 9:15.  The crowds were tremendous and the water spray was too.  The spray was rather welcome, considering the warmth of the evening.

Next we saw the Three Fountain Grove, then passed the Water Parterre toward the Fountain of Apollo's Chariot where the fireworks would take place.

Since it wasn't time for the fireworks, we went in search of the Colonnade Grove where there was an amazing light show with green "smoke" and laser lights.  Amazing but weird at the same time.

Then we went to find a place to sit for the fireworks/fire show.  There were fire torches fueled by gas jets in the area called The Green Carpet.  They were lined up in a row about 5 feet apart for about 100 yards.

We were shoulder to shoulder sitting on the ground (forgot the blanket) for 30 minutes waiting for the fireworks/fire show to begin.  It was a dazzling display choreographed to music.

We, along with the masses of people, made our way to the bus stop and finally back home on the Metro about 1am.