The name of Louis XIV remains
firmly attached to this town. Marly's construction was due to Louis XIV's
desire to retreat from the formal etiquette of Versailles.
The architect Mansart conceived a series of 13 separate units. The royal
pavilion would stand on the upper terrace while the other 12 would be
smaller in size and all identical. The king's pavilion symbolises the
Sun, Louis XIV's emblem, and the surrounding buildings represent the 12
signs of the Zodiac. Later the king gave orders to build the River "la
Grande Cascade", the Wonder of Marly, which was powered by the famous
"machine". The lords and ladies invited to the chateau were
not necessarily members of the aristocracy or high dignitaries, but lively,
intelligent personalities. The formal etiquette of Versailles was dropped
at Marly. |
