![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHao8whuoxORVmjIvqmg5Ph63guwYP8UA-9kR-ro1xZmIoEj4TXG9cZpg9ACH_jcY4fUpsRK4lWYxKNLlZMeCr30FNQpk0fqv5Vux-sbfwV9oJw5PC1iTq4YLChB8w2Qe0kLnJXXskQg/s400/fairytale+tower.jpg)
Nemours as an estate in a relatively undeveloped area had to be self-sufficient, like many country houses of the time (and today no doubt).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIUi9kZtoqBM_jJubWgbiN_pKJ5D4a7ffjqC1tt_gvcjUTNxUJV7ETVIK1DMsVwOQa3Wz01LnzNMdhvfYvRB9Krko6SwlmY5wpBxV1D5A2g8FGacIlMtJtMMfrB1wyUlq-t4BQNMnug/s400/entry+drive.jpg)
One enters the estate via a long drive with an allee of trees (seen at the top of the map below) before reaching the entry court, seen below with a #3 at the English gates.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgB8bQrNinhbdN_7hBdnk1S69rvwlNCkEeYP8fv-fJvXDwdkfdQOQCs74N2znh947HvUrAQMXzs6IM5UiCn9WB4dvFLYLyfGh8c-vC04zWXUun3uGAkBfX5x1s91EBv1MhyPU040aoCw/s400/nemours+plan.jpg)
Unmarked on the map, directly behind the gates from the house is a beautiful marble fountain with a fairy-tale like tower in the background.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_gunUEa6xGNsz94h970rQ2v3fNQfvqtzdJ9F3KQFQy8kdBxiOJ_F_3nMiAho8d-sYXra9yGkVk0spEUX9cwah4zQaPHOWZSePedcAuuwtX1owdvPAFXACyIjOEQ6kUGmg63ZRQbOYCg/s400/mansion+gates.jpg)
Was this some sort of folly for Dupont's grandchildren I wondered? I had visions of a playroom at the top of the tower with a Rapunzel theme.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4LuBYgTqpSGr-cN2KIgAH9ubNFjEnkh8-bK2eXEu40YCkslI7F3rViIcN-QGVCWfP8E1Z4TvS8tssJJnTF0c3Fb57oGQnTKM0FKzHDZ0yQxhSV1JtC-_q8rbqXHr4qP7TM_g3EOO-w/s400/fountain.jpg)
Bronze turtles feed the marble fountain.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5CCALRm5p9q7v-26ooWcR9xEgn32xXAfP_0oZobak09-pJFUj3qS4NerHoG5zADpU1UvcO2iLdDJJn1qT1V6NGJPikhcoAzU5SXP4SN_dFOI944kimmXzPojel4qKILcKu-N96WjVg/s400/turtle.jpg)
It turns out to be much more utilitarian than all of that: the tower is filled with machinery and is the pump and water tower for the estate!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFXJ9x4yAROJAqL3jRDYwENPf-4olV0YAvdDnDWVHXclFPSct6hIu4DT3bfbUoSCTxOpQEODRAhHN2ERXx-SwW-qlQHXzqy-zPtTdxTPPaeKuL7UknIME9-BNT8s_CI7yylCMPdtx2A/s400/water+tower.jpg)
A local stone base with tall stucco shaft, matching the house, is topped with an ornate wooden structure. Notice the clock and weather vane too!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisp3VbV5ypig8oiOOwoQNbC7v17cR-9-RyO3bGe0vhlwGmIVc4KP-PmMxNkHyrlDBUyiqCC8ZMrs5mi8vI_X7PvuytqpQZ1Cc_aQeZ7VZEUqOUQl5UDW46V17JBbAYijSzfzZ-9P9Hkg/s400/stone+base.jpg)
A very grand and picturesque necessity but maybe a tad disappointing for me; I still want Dupont's office at the top or at least the aforementioned playroom!.