Northern Quincunx and Southern Quincunx, Versailles
The gardens of Versailles are extensive and full of water features, lawns and bosquets. You will find the Northern Quincunx and the Southern Quincunx between the Latonia Fountain and the Grove of the Rocaille.
A 鈥渜uinconce鈥� is a quincunx and, for those of us who were never top of the class in Latin, it is a geometric pattern, elaborated by Pythagoras, consisting of four objects arranged in a square or a rectangle with a 5th object in the centre (like the five dots on a playing dice or domino).
The quincunxes at Versailles were laid out in 1660 by Andr茅 le Notre and were simply named The Two Bosquets. In 1696 they were rebuilt and named the Bosquet de la Girandole with a pool and a fountain featuring a flower arrangement at its centre, and the Grove of the Dauphin with a pool and a fountain representing a dolphin in its centre.
During a replanting program in 1775 both bosquets were destroyed and lime trees were planted in their place. It was at this time they were named the Northern Quincunx (the Grove of the Dauphin) and Southern (the Grove of the Girandole).
After the Great Storm of 1999, when a large part of Versailles was devastated by the wind, an extensive reforestation program was launched and during this the lime trees were cut down and the two bosquets were restored to their original state and reclaimed their original names.
A 鈥渜uinconce鈥� is a quincunx and, for those of us who were never top of the class in Latin, it is a geometric pattern, elaborated by Pythagoras, consisting of four objects arranged in a square or a rectangle with a 5th object in the centre (like the five dots on a playing dice or domino).
The quincunxes at Versailles were laid out in 1660 by Andr茅 le Notre and were simply named The Two Bosquets. In 1696 they were rebuilt and named the Bosquet de la Girandole with a pool and a fountain featuring a flower arrangement at its centre, and the Grove of the Dauphin with a pool and a fountain representing a dolphin in its centre.
During a replanting program in 1775 both bosquets were destroyed and lime trees were planted in their place. It was at this time they were named the Northern Quincunx (the Grove of the Dauphin) and Southern (the Grove of the Girandole).
After the Great Storm of 1999, when a large part of Versailles was devastated by the wind, an extensive reforestation program was launched and during this the lime trees were cut down and the two bosquets were restored to their original state and reclaimed their original names.
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Northern Quincunx and Southern Quincunx on Map
Sight Name: Northern Quincunx and Southern Quincunx
Sight Location: Versailles, France (See walking tours in Versailles)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Versailles, France (See walking tours in Versailles)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Versailles, France
Create Your Own Walk in Versailles
Creating your own self-guided walk in Versailles is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Versailles Introduction Walking Tour
Versailles, a wealthy suburb of Paris some 20 kilometers southwest of the capital, is steeped in grandeur and regal history. Known worldwide for its opulent palace 鈥� the residence of French royalty, this small town offers much more than just its royal gates. Versailles is a living museum of French architecture and aristocratic life and is historically known for numerous treaties signed there,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Versailles Gardens Walking Tour
Spread across a vast (800-hectare) area, the Versailles Gardens are the quintessential example of regal grandeur and meticulous French landscape design. Most of its feature areas 鈥� known as 'groves' 鈥� were created by King Louis XIV鈥檚 chief landscape architect Andr茅 Le N么tre. Key among the garden's numerous attractions is the Orangerie Fountain, which sets the tone for its... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles