Historical Buildings & Cultural Venues
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L&L Luce&Light
Abreuvoir de Marly
Just a few kilometres from Versailles, the remains of the Château
de Marly, a former French royal residence, are located in what is
now Marly-le-Roi. This was a favourite retreat of Louis XIV, where he
could escape the formal rigours of the palace. Small rooms meant
less company, and simplified protocol.
Work began on the Château in spring 1679, in response to the king’s
request for an isolated residence to be built on his property, in the
woods between the palace of Versailles and the Château de Saint-
Germain-en-Laye. Marly was the perfect choice. The project, a
collaboration between the architect Jules Hardouin Mansart and
the painter Charles Le Brun, was officially opened in 1686, and the
Abreuvoir de Marly, or “Marly horse trough”, was added in 1698.
This huge horse-watering pool was one of the most impressive
architectural and hydraulic structures of the 17th century. It was
conceived as a picturesque pond where the king’s horses could stop
to rest and water after hunting sessions in the nearby forest.
The setting is famed for its serene beauty and historical importance,
reflecting the grandeur and sophistication of the Sun King’s reign.
No trace remains of the original castle, but the drinking pool has
been beautifully preserved and has recently undergone a lighting
upgrade. The lighting design from the Amocosy design studio has
used L&L Luce&Light fixtures to restore the elegant and imposing
appearance of former times, with Trevi 1.2 32W 24Vdc 3000K,
underwater linear profiles for pools and fountains, specially designed
with a 90° rotation and 60 cm telescopic bracket.
The drinking pool’s massive, solid structure is typical of 17th century
architecture, designed to withstand time and weathering. Now,
it is emphasised by a soft, warm, diffuse light that envelops the
stone and creates magnificent reflections in the water below. The
entire structure is illuminated in a way that is in keeping both with
the grandiose aesthetics of the other buildings associated with
Versailles and the reign of Louis XIV, and with the natural ambience
of its surroundings.
Curiosities
The Abreuvoir de Marly originally functioned as both a watering
station and a decorative element. The king wanted the construction
to represent his power and artistic taste, and it incorporated
sculptural elements such as the famous Chevaux de Marly horse
statues by Guillaume Coustou. While the original statues are now
housed in the Louvre in Paris, replicas still grace the site.
The large, semi-rectangular basin has a central ramp leading down
to the water; the stone walls, with their strong, sturdy construction,
lend solidity to this monumental drinking pool. The basin is shallow
and built with a gentle slope to make it easier for horses to access
the water.
The abreuvoir was part of a complex water system that allowed the
basin to be filled with water from the Seine, channelled towards
Marly via a system of pumps known as the Machine de Marly, a
contemporary masterpiece of hydraulic engineering.
Abreuvoir de Marly
Location
Domaine royal de Marly,
Marly-le-Roi, France
Application
Fountains and swimming pools
Light planning
Amocosy
Photography
Arnaud Rinuccini
Trevi 1.2
power: 32W
optics: diffuse
colour temp.: 3000K
length: 1803mm
special accessory
for a 90° rotation
and 60cm telescopic
bracket
