Dragon Fountain facts for kids
The Dragon Fountain is a super cool water feature at the famous Palace of Versailles in France. It was built way back in 1667 by an artist named Gaspard Marsy. This amazing fountain is known for its powerful jet of water that shoots really high into the sky!
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The Amazing Dragon Fountain
Imagine a giant dragon, ready to breathe fire, but instead, it shoots water! That's the main idea behind the Dragon Fountain. It's one of the many incredible fountains you can find at the Palace of Versailles, which was once home to French kings.
Where is the Dragon Fountain?
You can find the Dragon Fountain at the end of the northern path in the gardens of Versailles. It's located between two other cool spots: the Water Walk and the huge Neptune Fountain. It's like a grand centerpiece in a beautiful outdoor art gallery.
How Does the Fountain Work?
The Dragon Fountain is famous for its powerful water jet. It can shoot water an incredible 90 feet (that's about as tall as a nine-story building!) into the air. But this super-high jet wasn't always on. It was only turned on for special occasions, usually when the King himself was visiting. For this amazing show to happen, all the other fountains nearby had to be turned off so the Dragon Fountain could have all the water pressure. At other times, the water jet was still impressive, reaching about 35 feet high.
Who Created This Masterpiece?
The artist who brought the Dragon Fountain to life was Gaspard Marsy. He was a talented sculptor who worked on many projects for the Palace of Versailles during the time of King Louis XIV. He created the dragon and the other statues around it, making sure every detail was perfect.
Fun Facts About the Dragon Fountain
Around the fierce dragon, you'll see statues of playful children riding on swans. These figures seem to be teasing or bothering the dragon, adding a fun, story-like element to the fountain. It's a great example of the detailed and imaginative art found throughout the gardens of Versailles.
Images for kids
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A powerful jet of water from the Dragon Fountain.
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The Dragon Fountain in the gardens of Versailles.
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A map showing the layout of Versailles.
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Another view of the beautiful Dragon Fountain.
