Bosquet de l'Encelade, Garden fountain grove in Versailles, France.
Bosquet de l'Encelade is a wooded garden room in Versailles with a lead sculpture of a giant emerging from rocky terrain at its center. The composition features eight auxiliary fountains arranged around an octagonal lawn, creating a balanced and enclosed garden space.
This garden space was built between 1675 and 1678 under King Louis XIV. Significant changes came around 1706 when original architectural features were removed, altering its original appearance.
The fountain represents the Greek myth of Enceladus, depicting the giant crushed under rocks after attempting to reach Mount Olympus.
This location sits within a quieter section of the palace gardens and is easily accessible by following the park pathways. It works well as a stop during a leisurely walk through Versailles, especially if you time your visit to catch a water show performance.
The rocky base beneath the sculpture mimics volcanic landscape features, with water flowing from the figure's mouth as a poetic reference to a classical myth. This theatrical water effect transforms a simple fountain into a storytelling device that visitors discover as they explore.
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