Versailles Palace to Restore Two 17th-Century Fountains in Urgent Conservation Project

The Palace of Versailles is preparing to begin restoration work on two historic fountains in its gardens: the Bassin du Bain des Nymphes and the Bassin du Dragon. Both water features date to the 17th century and require urgent intervention due to significant deterioration. The project is scheduled to start imminently and will continue for approximately one year, with completion expected by spring 2027. Pierre Bortolussi, chief architect of historic monuments overseeing the Versailles park, emphasized the critical state of the Nymphs' Basin, noting that its marble elements have degraded severely, losing their original color and gilding. The structural integrity is compromised because the marble supports lead panels and bas-reliefs; if the marble fails, these decorative elements could collapse. Restoration will involve complete disassembly of the Nymphs' Basin, including removal of marbles and lead components for workshop treatment, as well as addressing underlying wall damage. For the Dragon Basin, issues include watertightness and the need to repair sculptures, while also updating its water circulation system to maintain its notable 27-meter-high jet, the tallest at Versailles. Specialists such as masons, marble restorers, lead sculptors, gilders, and Versailles's fountain technicians will collaborate on the complex task of reconciling water flow with reapplied gilding on the artworks.