Austria: Klagenfurt ◦ Salzburg ◦ Vienna.

Australia: Adelaide ◦ Brisbane ◦ Broulee ◦ Gold Coast ◦ Melbourne ◦ North West Slopes, NSW ◦ Riverina Region ◦ Sydney.

When you're ready, keep going in the same direction on the path, and stay to the right until the exit of Apollo's Baths. The statues were originally found just North of the Palace, about where the chapel is today, forming the Grotto of Tethys, the titan god daughter of Earth and Sky. Not exactly here, as this is at least the third different spot these statues were moved to. In the dark recesses of the caves, Louis XIV would enjoy secret rendez-vous with his mistresses. Emulating his hero, Louis XIV adopted the sun as his trademark, becoming 'The Sun King.' Patron of the arts with his court painter Le Brun, composer Lully, poets La Fontaine and Perrault, and playwrights Molière and Racine, Louis XIV fostered the most creative period in French royalty.

Young Louis played the lyre, sang and danced just like his hero. He first appeared as Apollo on stage when he was 15. Why? Because Louis XIV saw himself as a modern-day Apollo. There are at least a dozen representations of Apollo in these gardens, the most of any personality.

Who was Apollo to the Greeks? None other than the master of song, music, poetry, light, and the very symbol of masculine beauty. Stop and take it all in when you have a clear view of the whole scene.

Glory of the war torn hero guide