Diana's Fountain in Fontainebleau and the unusual surroundings of the goddess (8 photos + 1 video)

The proud goddess of the hunt is under the watchful eye of her loyal guards.





True, they are constantly peeing, because the unusual sculptural composition is part of a fountain in the castle of Fontainebleau in France.



Fontainebleau Castle

The kings of France spent much of their time hunting with their packs of hounds, so the image of Diana the huntress is everywhere. This fountain in the gardens of Fontainebleau features Diana, a proud stag, and several dogs. The dogs look rather sad, or perhaps just exhausted after a long hunt. They are perched on their pedestal, collectively peeing in a pool.





Park area

Who came up with the idea to create such an unusual fountain? It was built by order of Henry IV in 1602. During his reign, he was not the most popular king, as he was drawn into the religious wars of his era.



Eventually, he was assassinated successfully after surviving at least 12 failed attempts. After his death, his reputation improved greatly and he was known as the "good king" because he genuinely tried to improve the welfare of his people.



This fountain was located in a private garden reserved for royalty. According to rumors, the king had to put in a lot of effort to get the bronze hounds - they used to be in the Louvre, and the ruler bought them especially for this fountain. Then the issue of plumbing arose.



The successful implementation clearly demonstrates the talent of the craftsmen. After all, making dogs constantly urinate was a significant achievement in hydraulic engineering. Due to the fact that bronze tends to age under the influence of the environment, the company turned green over time, but did not lose its charm.



The result gives us an idea of ​​what the royals four centuries ago found amusing. The landscape was originally designed in the classical Italian and French styles, which were intended to draw attention to the fountains and statues scattered around the grounds. It has since acquired a more picturesque English style. This secluded place is perfect for reflecting on the quirks of the kings and their rich history, which is closely intertwined with the branches of potted plants and majestic trees of the garden.



Today, the Fontainebleau area is open to everyone. Millions of French people and tourists come there to enjoy leisurely walks and escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.