The Apollo’s Chariot fountain returns to its place in the luxurious gardens of the Palace of Versailles. The sculptural composition and the underwater part of the fountain took a year to restore.
Workers strengthened the stone base of the fountain. The metal structure that had supported the sculptures for over three hundred years also needed repairs. They are made of lead and plated with gold. Over time, the metal rusted and became deformed. The restorers restored everything and also updated the gilding.
The sculptural ensemble consists of 13 statues. All together weigh 30 tons. They will be installed in a few days. Then work will begin on the underwater part of the hydraulic structure. The fountain will open at the end of March.
In the summer, during the 2024 Olympics, equestrian competitions will be held in the gardens of Versailles. Therefore, they tried to restore the “Apollo’s Chariot” faster. The fountain occupies an important place in the gardens, connecting the Small Park and the Grand Canal.
