Vaux-le-Vicomte Through the Centuries
Located in Seine-et-Marne, just 50 kilometers from Paris, Vaux-le-Vicomte is a true masterpiece of 17th-century classical architecture.
The brainchild of Nicolas Fouquet, Louis XIV’s Superintendent of Finances, the estate took nine years to complete.
At the time, Fouquet was a visionary. Passionate and bold, he surrounded himself with the best. Built by three of the greatest artists of the 17th century—landscape designer André Le Nôtre, architect Louis Le Vau, and painter Charles Le Brun—Vaux-le-Vicomte became a model that would inspire all of Europe.
Back then, nothing like it had ever been seen! Fountains, formal French gardens, statues, and at the heart of the park, a vast residence of 2,500 m² with around one hundred rooms.
Not content with building a sumptuous palace, Nicolas Fouquet turned Vaux-le-Vicomte into a hub for the greatest artists of the kingdom. Among its visitors were Jean-Baptiste Lully, Charles Perrault, Madame de Sévigné, Molière, Corneille… One of them, Jean de La Fontaine, was both a friend and protégé.
Vaux-le-Vicomte is a shining example of French classicism—where architecture, art, and pleasure converge. Despite its 360 years of existence, the estate remains as majestic and vibrant as ever. Rich in an exceptional past, the château is resolutely focused on the future.
Vaux-le-Vicomte is the realization of Nicolas Fouquet’s dream: a palace both grand and inviting, a venue for lavish festivities and a warm family home.
It represents a unique union of harmony and simplicity, a bold blend of elegance and intimacy.
Today, the three de Vogüé brothers welcome you as their guests, offering a timeless escape.
