Water at Courances

The story goes that the name Courances stems from the “running waters” present in the park. There are no less than 14 natural springs in the park, a river (the Ecole) and 17 ornamental pools, added over the centuries. The earliest pools date back to the 16th and 17th centuries, and the most recent ones from the 20th century.

There are no water mechanisms in the park of Courances, instead there is a subtle science of levels allowing water to flow into the pools from a succession of gueulards (sculpted dolphin heads).

“Woods of Cély, meadows of Fleury, water of Courances… are all three marvels in France…” was a proverbial saying at the court of Louis XIII. When the king was in residence at Fontainebleau, he had his table water brought from the “Fontaine du Roy”, the royal spring in the park.

Today as in the past, no chemicals are used in the pools at Courances.Nature is in control, and the ponds are cleaned by weed-eating carp.