Night Fountains Show at the Palace of Versailles
Throughout the summer, the Grandes Eaux Nocturnes du Château de Versailles return to illuminate the sumptuous and mythical places of the château and its gardens, all in perspective.
Every Saturday evening and until September, happy visitors can stroll around the grounds of the Sun King and his court, and attend an intense program where firework shows, baroque dances and electro rhythms mingle.
The Château de Versailles Spectacles teams concocted a myriad of explosive festivities, accompanied by Group F pyrotechnicians and other elegant partners such as the Éventail dance company and the musicians of the Folies Françoises ensemble during the Royal Serenade evenings which precede the colorful projections and fireworks of the Nocturnal Musical Fountains Show.
The tradition goes back to the time of the feasts given by Louis XIV, who, surrounded by a court of lively young people, offered them the most delightful entertainments and pleasures in France.
At the time, all kinds of daytime shows took place on the Grandes Eaux estate, the castle and its surroundings were already equipped with a water network that was ahead of its time.
Then when night fell, it was the turn of the illuminations and the grand fireworks display, exclusive to Europe, to entertain the court and increase the fame of the Sun King's celebrations.
Since 2008, Laurent Brunner, director of Château de Versailles Spectacles has opened up the field of possibilities and revived this tradition by inviting around ten thousand people per evening, as many French and international tourists as locals, to enjoy the Musical Fountains Show.
The Palace of Versailles is no longer a royal residence but a palace surrounded by nature open to everyone.
The show given every Saturday evening is an immediate experience that does not require any particular knowledge of the history of the castle.
This one is told to us differently through the lighting and watering of its gardens, with a dense historical heritage.
Two and a half hours of strolling await visitors who enter the royal domain to the sound of 17th century music.
From the recently restored Latona fountain, to the Bassin du Miroir, passing by the captivating Water Theater or the grove of the Baths of Apollo, the traveling show hypnotizes young and old alike and rises to the top of the unmissable outings in summer families.
Without forgetting, this year, two exceptional evenings that will spice up the Versailles program: the Nocturnes de feu on Monday August 15 and the Electro Nocturnes on Saturday September 24.
“Les Grandes Eaux Nocturnes”, until September 17 from 8:30 p.m. to 11:05 p.m. in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles (78).
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Nocturnes of fire
Night Fountains Show in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles Thierry Nava - Group F
During this fiery evening, the Palace of Versailles replaces the tradition of royal fires in the modern history of the estate, immersing visitors in a shower of flamboyant effects.
A musical walk between groves and ponds magnified in bright colours, the music of Lully, Handel, Gluck, or even Rameau floods the space and breathes new life into the lapping of the fountains.
On his way, the walker meets fire artists at the bend of a sculpture, before finding himself face to face with the monumental flames of the Grande Perspective, East West axis which crosses the Gardens to the Grand Canal.
200 drones criss-cross the sky above the gardens and offer visitors a large format vision of the night they experience.
“Nocturnes de Feu”, Monday August 15 from 8:30 p.m. to 11:05 p.m. in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles (78).
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Electro Nights
Night Fountains Show in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles Diaye
Exalted atmosphere on the evening of September 24th at the Palace of Versailles which spreads the frenetic tempo of electronic music in its immaculate gardens.
Before the gloom of the new school year falls on its visitors, or to counter it, the Musical Fountains Show tunes to the frenzied cadences of drum machines to offer night owls something to bask in and enjoy the summer. Indian on the outskirts of the capital.
On a soundtrack composed by the Ed Banger label and bringing together fashionable DJs, the lights adorning the waters of the fountains are agitated even more and attract a new audience to the Palace of Versailles.
“Electro Nocturnes” on Saturday September 24 from 8:30 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles (78).
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The Royal Serenade
Royal Serenade at the Palace of Versailles Julien Idier
Every Saturday when the sun goes down, the heavy doors of the State Apartments of the Castle open to visitors, curious to attend the Royal Serenade in the privileged company of Baroque musicians and dancers.
Before the Nocturnal Fountain Shows or after the Musical Fountain Shows which rock the days of Versailles, participants are invited to stroll through the sumptuous apartments of the King and Queen, passing through the Salon d'Hercule and the Cour de Marbre.
They rave about the whimsical period scenes performed by the Folies Françoises ensemble and danced by the Éventail company, then discover the intricacies of sword fighting.
"The Royal Serenade of the Hall of Mirrors" until September 17, 5 sessions of 45 minutes per evening at 6:30 p.m., 6:50 p.m., 7:10 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Hall of Mirrors of the Palace of Versailles (78).
