THE POND OF THE QUEEN
The vestiges of the royal palace

The construction of the royal palace started in 1860 to shelter Queen Pomare IV, who used to live in a modest house, and it was only finished in 1883. Indeed, the  works were delayed because all the funds collected for the building of the palace were very fast wasted in numerous parties for which the royal family was fond of.

Entirely built in wood, the royal palace was made of a first floor with a balcony that had balustrades and surmounted with a decorated octagonal belvedere and a clock. The royal palace was given up to the colony in 1901, a few years after the death of Pomare V.

For a short time, it has been used by the General Council until 1903, before it was transformed into an administrative building.

The palace became too old and had to be destroyed in 1966. Only the magnificent pond and garden remain from the palace of the Queen that are next to the current Territorial Assembly. The Papeete River that ran down the palace is now covered; it takes its source in the gardens of the Territorial assembly and re-appears in the Bougainville Park on the sea front. In the old days, the inhabitants came to draw pure water in this river and its name was given to the capital of Tahiti.

The garden and the pond of the queen are not opened to the public that is why I invite you to discover them through photographs.