Quinconce du Nord and the Quinconce du Midi, Versailles

Quinconce du Nord and the Quinconce du Midi, Versailles

The gardens of Versailles are extensive and full of water features, lawns and bosquets. You will find the Quinconce du Nord and the Quinconce du Midi between the Latonia Fountain and the Bosquet des Rocailles.

A “quinconce” 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 André 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 Bosquet du 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 Quinconce du Nord (the Bosquet du Dauphin) and Midi (the Bosquet de la 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.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Versailles. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Quinconce du Nord and the Quinconce du Midi on Map

Sight Name: Quinconce du Nord and the Quinconce du Midi
Sight Location: Versailles, France (See walking tours in Versailles)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark

Walking Tours in Versailles, France

Create Your Own Walk in Versailles

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 Introduction Walking Tour

Situated on the southwest outskirts of Paris, Versailles is a small city famed for housing the opulent residence of French royalty, the Palace of Versailles. The latter is, by far, Versailles' main attraction, complete with its Hall of Mirrors, Grand Apartments and the Royal Chapel, as well as the spacious formal gardens adorned with fountains and sculptures. Another major attraction is the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
Versailles Garden Fountains Tour

Versailles Garden Fountains Tour

Besides its many wonderful plants and trees landscaped into amazing patterns, the gardens at the Royal Palace of Versailles have another key ingredient: water. The marvelous fountains and other fantastic water features here only serve to underline the magnificent beauty of the whole complex. Take our tour to see the best water features in the royal gardens.

Tour Duration: 4 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 10.1 Km or 6.3 Miles