The Grand Siècle rendez-vous
of Vaux-le-Vicomte
Pratical Information
Online booking mandatory
Each year, this event is a highly anticipated moment for lovers of the 17th century! A unique experience of the French art of living in the time of Louis XIV and Nicolas Fouquet. The festivities will continue until nightfall in an intimate candlelit atmosphere.
Dates : Saturday, May 31th
Schedule: 11:00 am – 9:30 pm (last access to ticket office) – Animations start at 3:00 pm
Rates:
- Full price (including Castle & Gardens): €22
- Reduced rate (children from 4 to 17 years old, students, job seekers, and costumed attendees) including Castle & Gardens: €17.50
- Gardens-only rate: €16
- Free for children under 4 years old
- After Prestige (in addition to the entrance ticket and soon available online on our online ticketing service): From €60
Costume rental and fitting are strongly recommended in advance with our approved partners: Vertugadin and Sommier et Fils
A cloakroom and free lockers will be available on-site.
Children’s costume rental is available at the château starting from €4 (for the château visit only, no reservation required). Wearing a costume is not mandatory to access the estate.
The immersive sound experience (PSI) will not be available during this event.
Book my ticket
On Saturday, May 31, the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, a family residence and a grand venue for celebrations in Nicolas Fouquet’s time, invites you to step back in time to the era of the Sun King and the artists of the Grand Siècle. Each year, thousands of costumed visitors and curious onlookers flock to the Château, dressed in their finest attire, to experience a memorable day at a 17th-century court, set against the magnificent backdrop of the palace that inspired the Château de Versailles.
On the program for this 2025 edition: courtly dance invitations, musketeer performances, horse-drawn carriage rides, equestrian demonstrations, falconry shows, stilt-walking artists, costumed parade, baroque dance performance by the students of Cie Fêtes Baroques – Chrystelle Arcelin, gardens illuminated by candlelight, fountain displays in the estate’s pools, and a grand gold-and-silver firework show at 11:00 pm.
At 6:00 pm, all costumed guests will be invited to stroll through the French formal garden.
Children will be kings!
Children will have the opportunity to explore the château dressed in magnificent period costumes. Around the fountains, they can enjoy a 17th-century-style pastime, guiding small colorful sailboats across the water. A face-painting workshop and an introduction to the language of beauty patches, a hallmark of the era, will also be offered free of charge.
A varied dining offer
During this exceptional evening, the estate offers a high-quality dining experience. You can enjoy a gourmet dinner at Les Charmilles restaurant, in an intimate setting with a view of the château and its candlelit gardens, or opt for a warm and convivial meal at Le Relais de l’Écureuil. Every visitor will experience magical moments, admiring the harmony of a 17th-century masterpiece.
Information about the Les Charmilles restaurant will be available soon.
The After Prestige, for Ambassadors of the Grand Siècle
Are you someone who seeks excellence, wears period costumes, and knows everything about 17th-century fashion? Then this special event within the event is made for you! The Château honors passionate enthusiasts by offering them the opportunity to participate in a “Prestige After Party” to close the day. Welcomed at the gates of the Cour d’Honneur at 9:30 PM, marquises and marquis, dukes, and other costumed guests will enjoy a convivial and intimate moment inside the Château and on the south terrace, specially privatized for the occasion.
The program will include a champagne bar, snacks, baroque dance classes with Guillaume Jablonka, discovery of period cosmetics, a musical interlude, and much more. Our ambassadors will also have the privilege of watching the fireworks from the south terrace of the Château, which will be privatized at 11:00 PM.
Detailed program and reservations coming soon.
To contribute to the magic of the event, it is essential to arrive wearing a high-quality baroque-style outfit, and to don it before entering the Château grounds. Entry will be refused to those not in costume.
