Versailles, France
Elaborate fountains at the Palace of Versailles spouted water this week for the first time in more than 200 years, thanks to private U.S. donations. The newly restored Bosquet des Trois Fontaines, a vast garden with three levels of fountains linked by waterfalls, is the only one of the palace’s 16 fountain complexes designed by King Louis XIV himself. It fell into disuse in the late 18th century, after the palace was overrun during the French Revolution. The American Friends of Versailles foundation managed to raise most of the $6.5 million to restore the fountains, despite the tension between France and the U.S. over the Iraq war. The foundation lobbied American donors by arguing that Versailles was not just a French monument, but a world treasure.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Why the weather keeps getting 'stuck'In the Spotlight Record hot and dry spring caused by 'blocked' area of high pressure above the UK
-
Can Starmer sell himself as the 'tough on immigration' PM?Today's Big Question Former human rights lawyer 'now needs to own the change – not just mouth the slogans' to win over a sceptical public
-
UK-India trade deal: how the social security arrangements will workThe Explainer A National Insurance exemption in the UK-India trade deal is causing concern but should British workers worry?
