Le Château de Vaux le Vicomte

Its no exaggeration to say that Frances position as a representative of beauty in the world began not in the Palace of Versailles, but in the castle of Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte in the southeast of Paris.

This castle was built by the Superintendent of Finances under King Louis XIV, Nicolas Fouquet. In an effort to boast of his wealth, Fouquet, with no concern for the cost, hired the greatest artists of the day to design a castle more beautiful than anything that had come before. The opening party, to which even the king and queen were invited, was held on August 17th, 1661. The castle was decorated with many flowers, the water fountain danced beautifully, the imperial chef, Vatel, had his amazing food lined up, fireworks exploded overhead... That day was probably the greatest day of Fouquets life. However, immediately after that party, the king sent soldiers to arrest Fouquet, and he would never return to Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte again. Voltaire would later write, At six o'clock on the night of August, 17th, Fouquet was the king of France. However, by two in the morning he had become a nobody." Displeased with Fouquet's flashy behavior, Louis XIV secretly carried out this harsh punishment.

In all likelihood, the king couldn't help but admire the refined beauty of this amazing castle. He ordered those very same artists (architect Louis Le Vau, interior decorator Charles Le Brun, landscape architect Andre le Notre) to create another castle, worthy of Frances king, that would surpass even Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte. The result was the Palace of Versailles.

Because Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte is basically open during the same period as the Palace of Versailles, from spring to fall (the middle of March to the middle of November), and getting there can take a decent amount of time, it may be somewhere youll want to make the time to see on your second or third trip to France. Unlike Versailles, which can be found in the middle of Paris, Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte stands isolated amongst forests and fields, and you will see its value in a single glance.

Coincidentally, this castle is not a national monument, but belongs to a private owner. Upkeep on the castle is primarily funded by our admission fees, so dont feel bad about paying it, even though it isnt cheap.

Contact :
Château de Vaux le Vicomte
77950 Maincy
Tél. : 01 64 14 41 90
→ Official Site : www.vaux-le-vicomte.com (in English)

Open Times :
March 15th, 2008- November 9th 10:00-17:30 (Closed from 13:00-14:00 on weekdays).
Special Christmas Opening: December 20th, 2008-January 4th, 2009 11:00-18:30
However, they are closed on December 25th, Christmas Day.

Holidays :
November 10th, 2008-December 19th,
December 25th; January 1st, 2009,
January 5th-Middle of March.

Admission Fees :
General Admission 12.50
Discounted Rate (Students, Over 60) 10
Child Admission (Ages 6-16) 9.50
Audio Guide (English, French, etc.) 2.5
Dome Entry 2

Check the opening days and hours, and admission fees on the official English site :
www.vaux-le-vicomte.com

Paris Vision Bus Tours
Course : Paris → Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte → Château de Fontainebleau → Paris
Dates : July 9th, 2008-August 31st Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays
Fees : Adults 40, Children 25 (Entrance to the castle and an audio guide are included)
→Online Reservation (English)

Paris Vision departs from and arrives right in front of Tuileries Garden (Map), so its very convenient. Since youll be able to go to Château de Fontainebleau at the same time, it can be a really productive day.

Train 1 + Bus
Paris Lyon Station → SNCF (National Railway) headed to Sens, depart at Melun.

Train 2 + Bus
Chatelet or Lyon Station → RER D Line headed to Montereau, depart at Melun.
Confirm the train times to Melun here (English)

The Chateau bus arrives and departs from Avenue Gallieni across from the Cafe de la Gare in front of Melun Station.

Period : March 22nd, 2008-October 26th
Fee : One-Way 3.50, Round-Trip 7
Chateau timetable and details (English)

Of course Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte is huge, but its not as big as the Palace of Versailles. Half a day should be plenty to have a good look around the castle and the gardens. Youll be able to leisurely enjoy the atmosphere there.

① Castle

The interior of the castle has been recreated in the same interior design style of the day. The opening party was especially showy, so try to imagine that while you have a look around. At any rate, it was enough to make Louis XIV jealous...
By the way, the whole concept of a dining room was invented for this castle. Until then, the convention was to eat in whatever room you felt like eating.

② Le Dôme du château

In the middle of the castle youll find the entrance to the Dome. It has a separate entry fee (of 2 euros), but its definitely worth it! Inside the dome at the center of this castle you'll see the wood framework constructed at the time, so you can take a peek at the technological strength of the carpentry of the day. Furthermore, you can ascend the narrow stairs up to a small terrace. A 360 degree panoramic view spreads out below you, and you can take in a birds eye view of the castle and garden.

③ Lextérieur du château

Once youre done taking in the interior youll want to take another careful look at the exterior.around the castle and the gardens. to really appreciate it. The buildings may be smaller than those of Versailles, but the way they snugly fit together gives them a truly elegant shape. Its a Baroque style.

④ Les jardins

The garden, designed by Andre le Notre, takes up 33 hectares. Looking out from the castle, it may seem unexpectedly small, but if you walk all the way to the giant statue of Hercules at the very back be forewarned: its a considerable distance. The geometrical arrangement of the ponds, plants, and waterways may seem stereotypical of a beautiful French park layout, but since here and there rural scenery peeks through, a slow stroll is the best method. There's even a terrace where you can eat a light meal in the garden.