The Castle of Vaux-le-Vicomte, a 17th-century masterpiece built by Louis le Vau for Nicolas Fouquet, Louis XIV's chief financial officer, was magnificently inaugurated on August 17, 1661 in the presence of the Sun King. But unfortunately, just three weeks later, Nicolas Fouquet was arrested on behalf of the king and sentenced to life imprisonment because he was found to be too ambitious and, among other things, had built this jewel. The splendor and magnificence of this castle later served as inspiration for the construction of the Palace of Versailles...
The remarkably well-preserved castle of Vaux-le-Vicomte in the commune of Maincy reveals to its visitors an extraordinary inventory of furniture, carpets and works of art, carefully selected by the then interior designer Charles Le Brun. The Great Salon, the King's Chamber, the Salon of the Muses and the Dining Room are among the admirable rooms. During a tour of the castle, you can also see the cellars and kitchens where the famous chef Vatel once conjured up his specialties. From the castle dome you have a very nice view of the surrounding park.
This beautiful garden "à la française", designed by Le Nôtre, extends in front of the castle's moats and offers park and garden lovers a very beautiful sequence of scenes and perspectives with parterres, pools, grottoes, waterfalls and elegant statues. The garden really invites you to dream...