Bosquet des Dômes, Garden grove in Versailles, France
The Bosquet des Dômes is a garden grove in Versailles featuring a hexagonal basin surrounded by a balustrade with a white marble fountain supported by dolphins at its center. The basin and its ornamentation form the main focal points of this garden space.
André Le Nôtre designed this grove in 1675, with a statue of the goddess Fame originally spouting water from a trumpet as its centerpiece. Jules Hardouin-Mansart added two white marble domes in 1677 that gave the grove its name, though they were removed in 1820.
The grove displays French garden design through its amphitheater layout and the use of marble sculptures with mythological themes. This design shapes how visitors perceive and move through the space today.
This section of the gardens attracts fewer visitors than other groves, making it easier to explore the architectural elements without crowds. The pathways around the basin are straightforward to navigate and accessible throughout the year.
The domes that gave this location its name were removed as early as 1820, leaving only the foundational structure visible today. Few visitors realize that the feature in the name no longer physically exists at the site.
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