Vaux-le-Vicomte
Reservation

Summer Holidays

Experience Vaux-le-Vicomte as a family

The summer holidays are the perfect opportunity to discover Vaux-le-Vicomte with your family. Bathed in sunshine, Le Nôtre’s magnificent gardens are at their most splendid, the ornamental ponds bring the perspectives to life, and the château offers a refreshing escape filled with discovery. From adventures in the gardens and immersive experiences to outdoor games and moments of relaxation, visitors of all ages can enjoy a memorable day together.

Practical information

During the summer holidays, from 4 July to 30 August

Open daily from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm (last admission at the ticket office), except on Saturdays during the Candlelit Evenings, from 11:00 am to 9:30 pm.

 

Château & gardens

  • Full price: €18
  • Reduced rate: €14.50
  • Family rate: €59
  • Free for children under 6

Garden only

  • €13,50

Extras

  • Costume hire
  • Dome access
  • Club car rental

Different admission rates apply for the Candlelit Evenings.

Le Relais de l’Écureuil
A friendly self-service restaurant, perfect for a gourmet break, offering daily specials and desserts made from fresh ingredients.

The Kiosk
For a quick break without interrupting your garden visit, enjoy takeaway options to savour on the terrace facing the château.

Discover the château differently

Take advantage of the cool elegance of the château’s state rooms and immerse yourself in the fascinating history of Vaux-le-Vicomte through a 3D audio experience. Equipped with a headset, you will be transported to the heart of the key events that shaped the estate: court intrigues, a lavish celebration, and the remarkable fate of Nicolas Fouquet…

For younger visitors, a dedicated trail invites them to follow Jean de La Fontaine and Panache, a flying squirrel, on a playful and poetic journey through the château.

New experiences to discover

  • The collaborative puzzle: in Hercules’ antechamber, help recreate a monumental artwork by Charles Le Brun.
  • The living library: take a break in a warm, intimate space, just like a family home.

Dome access :

Climb to new heights and enjoy spectacular views over the estate from the lantern, more than 25 metres above ground level (extra charge, tickets available on site).

Be amazed in the French formal garden

Summer is the ideal season to make the most of the gardens. Between leisurely strolls, outdoor games and sensory experiences, the estate can be discovered from a whole new perspective.

The Trail of Textures  : An invitation to experience the estate differently: walk barefoot and explore the textures of the garden — stone, water, wood, metal… a unique immersive experience.

The Mystery of the Iron Mask : In the Patte d’Oie grove, embark on a captivating investigation. This scenographic trail takes you through underground passages and clearings to uncover one of history’s greatest mysteries.

 

Activities for the whole family

Around the bassin de la Couronne, several experiences await children:

  • For little gardeners: take part in the “Seedling Gardener” activity and plant wildflower seeds in our flowerbeds.
  • For little sailors: set your small wooden sailboat afloat in one of the bassin de la Couronne.
  • For players: collect a wooden games cart and enjoy fun moments with your family.

Older visitors can also experience the gardens in a different way:

  • For players: search for Nicolas Fouquet’s emblem hidden in the gardens… and try to win your return visit to Vaux-le-Vicomte.
  • For adventurers: at the end of the gardens, the monumental statue of Hercules awaits. Reachable on foot or by electric buggy, it offers breathtaking views over the estate’s grand perspective.
  • For dreamers: brand new this season, the confessional becomes a relaxation area. Settle into a deckchair under the lime trees for a nap or a peaceful moment out of time…

Summer Holidays

From 14 November to 3 January

Let the magic of Christmas carry you away on an enchanting journey around the world, at the heart of Vaux-le-Vicomte.

From the moment you arrive, you are invited to immerse yourselves in a warm and transporting atmosphere, where each state room of the château is adorned with décor inspired by distant horizons, blending elegance, traditions and wonder. The crackling of open fires accompanies this fairytale journey through cultures and imagination.

In the Grand Salon, a monumental projection brings a striking immersive spectacle to life, enhancing the architecture and history of this remarkable setting. Outdoors, the gardens are illuminated and transformed into a sparkling trail, inviting you to stroll and dream. An ice rink completes this winter experience, offering a joyful and convivial moment to share.

Blending poetry, light and discovery, experience an unforgettable Christmas where every step takes you further on a magical journey filled with a thousand shimmering delights.

Informations et réservation à venir

Summer Holidays

Every Saturday from 16 May to 26 September 2026

Vaux-le-Vicomte invites visitors to rediscover this 17th-century masterpiece by the flickering light of two thousand candles illuminating the château and French garden. A refined romantic dinner, water features in the ponds and a champagne bar complete this delightful, timeless evening. A golden and silver fireworks display will bring the evening to a close.

Practical Information

Every Saturday from 16 May to 26 September 2026, as well as 13 July and 15 August.

From 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm (last entrance at the ticket office).

The estate closes at midnight.

  • Full price (including Castle & Gardens): €22
  • Reduced rate (children from 4 to 17 years old, students, job seekers) including Castle & Gardens: €17.50
  • Gardens-only rate: €16
  • Free for children under 4 years old
Book my ticket

Every Saturday during Candlelight Night, shuttle buses are provided from Paris and Melun.

Book your tickets for the shuttle bus
Book your tickets online

An enchanted evening by Candlelit Evenings

Since 1980, Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte has been the first château to offer candlelit evening visits, providing a dreamlike and unique experience. From 5:30 PM, explore the château in soft lighting, and as night falls, marvel at the gardens illuminated by thousands of candles!

Rediscover 33 hectares of French-style gardens designed by Le Nôtre, the magnificent architecture of Le Vau, and the sumptuous paintings of Le Brun, all bathed in the flickering glow of 2,000 candles… Relive, for an evening, the magic of the legendary fête of August 17, 1661.

In case of bad weather, our team will do everything possible to ensure at least a partial lighting of the candles and the fireworks display (except in cases of force majeure or public safety concerns).

Live Performances in the French Garden

From August onwards, the evenings will be enhanced by a refined and enchanting artistic presence. Graceful, illuminated stilt walkers dressed in white will wander through the formal French gardens. Dreamlike and shimmering silhouettes, they will blend with the flickering candlelight to offer visitors a poetic, ethereal and timeless experience.

But the enchantment doesn’t stop there… At 10:15 PM, a magical moment awaits visitors in the main alley: sparkling lights will be handed out to the audience to create a fleeting luminous fresco, just before the fireworks show begins. As the first musical notes echo through the gardens, let yourself be swept away by this collective choreography and immerse yourself in this timeless celebration.

Immersive projection : the Palace of the Sun, Le Brun

Starting at 5:30 pm (continuous).

Visitors can discover the digital restoration of the immense 380 m² painting that Charles Le Brun had planned for this ceiling and be mesmerized by the work that builds and comes to life before their eyes.

A fireworks display of gold and silver!

A true spectacle that concludes each candlelit evening: a series of pyrotechnic scenes retracing the celebration of August 17, 1661, thanks to the letter written by La Fontaine to his friend Maucroix!

For the occasion, André Dussollier, the famous French actor, lends his voice to Jean de La Fontaine, to transport the visitor 360 years back to this famous and sumptuous evening…

The fireworks display starts at 11:00 pm.

Dancing Water Displays in the Garden

The dancing water displays will take place during each Candlelit Evening, from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM.

Swimming is prohibited.

*(Depending on available water reserves)

A varied dining offer

During the candlelit evenings, the estate offers a quality dining experience. Enjoy a gourmet dinner at the Charmilles restaurant, with a view of the castle and gardens lit by candlelight, a convivial meal at the Relais de l’Écureuil, comfortably seated at the Songe de Vaux with a glass of champagne and macarons while listening to baroque music, or in the gardens enjoying a delicious picnic. Each visitor experiences magical moments, contemplating the harmony of a complete 17th-century work of art.

Privatize the dome to share a unique moment for 2!

Culminating at over 25 meters high and offering a breathtaking 360° view of the estate, the dome provides an exceptional spectacle. A unique and magical moment to celebrate together at the top of the château! You’ll also have the privilege of launching the fireworks yourself from the Dome, while enjoying a glass of champagne!

For more information, contact our team by email: commercial@vaux-le-vicomte.fr.