Machine de Marly
French water pump, built 1684
About
The Machine de Marly (French pronunciation: [maʃin də maʁli]), also known as the Marly Machine or the Machine of Marly, was a large hydraulic system in Yvelines, France, built in 1684 to pump water from the river Seine and deliver it to the Palace of Versailles.
As a monumental hydraulic system constructed in the late 17th century to pump water from the Seine River to the fountains and gardens of Versailles, a crucial feat of engineering for King Louis XIV's elaborate water displays. It was the largest and most complex mechanical system of its time, powered by 14 large waterwheels turning over 250 pumps to lift water nearly 177 yards up a hill. Though its primary goal was to enable the extravagant water features of the royal estates, it became a symbol of Louis XIV's power — and a ultimately, a popular tourist attraction.
Nearby
More to see within walking distance
Château de Madame du Barry
Château in Yvelines, France
0.2 mi away
Château du Verduron
Castle in Marly-le-Roi, France
1.5 mi away
Château Louis XIV
21st-century French château
1.5 mi away
Château de Marly
French royal residence
1.2 mi away
Louveciennes
Commune in Île-de-France, France
0.8 mi away
Bougival
Commune in Île-de-France, France
0.5 mi awayPlaces to eat nearby
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