The Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte,part II !!!

Posted in Europe, France, Paris

This is a marvelous castle often overlook for lack of leaving Paris proper by most visitors. However, it is highly recommended.  To say the least been here many times as it is in my wife’s Martine region, and it was one of the first properties visited when coming annually to France since 1990. Needless to tell you I am a friend of the castle since 2008, I like to update this older introductory post with new text and links for you and me, Therefore, here is my take on the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, part II  !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

vaux le vicomte front gate c2004

The castle is not name for the city, the town ,village we better describe it is call Maincy postal code 77950 with a population of about 1700 inhabitants. It is located in the wonderful Seine et Marne dept 77 of the Île de France region, It all became famous when the  Superintendant of Finance (from 1653)  of king Louis XIV ,Nicolas Fouquet  purchase the land of Vaux in 1641 from the inheritance of his decease wife .In 1657, he hired the architect Louis Le Vau to built a castle , the painter Le Brun to do its decorations ,and the gardener Le Nôtre to create the gardens, The talent of these man was already known to the king as they were used to do the similar work at the Chateau de Vincennes (bois de Vincennes) in 1651-1653 .When all is done, Nicolas Fouquet proudly showcase the property with a grand bal or party on August 17 , 1661, inviting the King itself and its court.

vaux le vicomte chateau vaux le vicomte gardens c2004

This was the beginning of disaster for him and his castle. Not just for this castle as it is the popular story, but because Nicolas Fouquet had fraudelent used the Kings’ money for other properties as well a total of 11 millions francs for which he recognise in front of the Tribunal only 8 millions. As a young man, he resided in the family house on rue de Jouy, in Paris. He then acquired a house near the rue de Matignon, before moving to the Hôtel de Castille, brought in dowry by his second wife. He then owned the Hotel of Narbonne and that of Emery, adjoining that of Mazarin. He also bought a large property in Saint-Mandé which he had rebuilt and embellish. Also , purchased the marquisate and the fortress of Belle-Île-en-Mer (Morbihan 56), He never came to Belle-Île, Immediately all these events led the King Louix XIV and his advisers figure that the embellishement and grandeur of Vaux-le-Vicomte was due to the misused of these funds. He was ordered arrested by the king  in September 5th of 1661 with the personage of Captain D’Artagnan , yes of the muskeeteers fame, the loyal guard of the king.  He is sentenced to 15 years in prison in Italy where he died in the dungeon of the fortress of Pignerol on March 23, 1680.

A bit on the architecture briefly as several posts on it, The castle of Vaux-le-Vicomte represent a French feodal architecture with four buildings ,two of rectangular shape along the gardens and two square along the courtyard; it has a Rotonda, Italian style in the center room with the king’s apartement on the left and the apt for Nicolas Fouquet on the right, the central room is of an oval shape something unique for the times. First floor or ground floor you have the Salon d’Hércules,Chambre des Muses (or Fouquet) ,there is a chimney in the Salon des Jeux or games room ,the antichamber of the king is not finished! as well as the chambre du roi or king’s room , there is the dining room, and kitchen . First floor or second floor (US) you have the bedroom of Nicolas Fouquet all is original ! ,Also, the one for Mme Fouquet all made of glass, plus a cabinet room or office . There is a huge beautiful garden as you can imagine fait par Le Notre,not to miss either about 3 kms of it French style.

You,also, have a carriage museum (see post) in an adjacent building of carriages from the 19C to 20C. There is a water fountain show the second and last Saturdays of the month from about March to October, check site for exact dates as they change a bit year to year.  Also, the Saturdays from May 1 to October 9 thereabout 2000 candles are lit at night for a magnificent show of lights after 20h.  There are kids theme games, and a special masquearade party every year not to be missed if possible.

A bit on the modern history tell us that the Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte goes thru traumatic periods of inheritances and revolutions before falling by foreclosure sale to industrialist Alfred Sommier in June 15, 1875, he renovates the castle bring back its old belonging or make due imitations of the ones existing before, and the Castle is reborn, unfortunately he died at the castle in 1908.  The castle serves as a military hospital during WWI until 1918.  The castle  is today own by Jean-Charles de Voguë, Alexandre de Vogüé, and Ascanio de Vogüé. Today they are the fifth generation of their family to ensure its management. They have done considerable work and publicity to make this property once again royal and magnificent for all to see.

The official castle of Vaux le Vicomte : https://vaux-le-vicomte.com/en/

The Local Melun Val de Seine tourist office on the castle : https://www.melunvaldeseine-tourisme.com/patrimoine-culturel/chateau-de-vaux-le-vicomte

The Seine et Marne dept 77 tourist office on the castle : https://www.seineetmarnevivreengrand.fr/explorer/chateau-de-vaux-le-vicomte-676128/

There you go folks, this is a must to visit in my belle France. Near Paris, why not, see one of the most beautiful castles in France with plenty of activities year-round. Again, hope you have enjoy this post on the Château de Vaux le Vicomte, part II as I.

And remember, happy travels , good health, and many cheers to all !!!

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Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

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