Paris - Temple of Love - Versailles

Plate CXV - The Temple of Love…

The gazebo as a garden feature was typically situated on a hill, to give extensive views. As decorative garden features they became popular in Europe in the 17th century. The name itself is an eighteenth century ‘joke word’ combining “gaze” with the Latin ebo (I shall), and today is generally applied to garden houses with extended views in all directions.

As an architectural feature, the cupola seems to have originated in Islamic architecture of the 8th century. Their popularity spread to Russia around the 18th century, and gradually found its way into European architecture through Vienna, Austria and Bavaria.

Leaving the grounds of the palace I spotted this cupola covered stone gazebo. Imagining the romantic aristocratic rendezvous that may have taken place here, I headed back to my final day in Paris.

How better to end this eventful visit to Versailles than to know that ‘I did gaze’ one final time at the palace and its gardens from a place of love?