CHÂTEAU DE VAUX-LE-VICOMTE

When I think of gorgeous French castles, stretches of manicured lawns, and sumptuous interiors, I think of Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte. To begin, Nicolas Fouquet purchased the manor of Vaux-le-Vicomte in 1641 and by 1661, he had transformed the estate into one of beauty and splendor. Fouquet was born into a wealthy family, and he himself was in charge of France’s finances from 1653 to 1661. While he was devoted to the monarchy, one of his adversaries, Colbert, was quite jealous of his success and started to pour pestilence into the ear of Louis XIV. On August 17th, 1661, Nicolas hosted a party at Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte to honor Louis XIV. The king enjoyed his time at Nicolas’s estate and yet three weeks later, had him arrested. You’ll be able to hear all about the scheming of Colbert, the lavish party, the arrest, and the trial, through the estate’s immersive audio experience. (“Fun” fact: this was the only time in French history when a monarch yielded his power to worsen a sentence, so you’ll want to tune in for this!)

This was the first time I have experienced audio technology in this manner, and it was incredible. As soon as you enter a room, the equipment automatically picks up on where you are in the building and provides you with the appropriate soundbite. The audio lasts for an hour with no interruption, taking you on a journey as you hear doors slam, glasses clinking, and guests plotting. After your head is swimming from traveling back in time, walk out back to explore the gardens.

Fouquet enlisted a winning combination of talented people to create the gardens, and the king would actually hire these same people to work on his creation in Versailles. You can walk the grounds, sit on a bench, or enjoy a variety of food options as you look out over the pristine lawn. You can even purchase a picnic basket to enjoy on the grounds (which must be booked at least 2 days in advance)! If you prefer a more structured dining experience, there is also a restaurant on site.

Before you leave, walk through the Carriage Museum, which is just past the ticket office. This museum displays 17th, 18th, and 19th century antique carriages and their associated equipment. Note that the Carriage Museum is free!

Getting to the château is easily accessible by public transportation. Take the RER R train to Melun from Paris’ Gare de Lyon (this is a 30-minute direct train). You can purchase your tickets in front of the track. Once in Melun, you can take an Uber or taxi to the château or you can take their Chateaubus shuttle from Melun! Please note that the shuttle is generally available only on the weekends, so check the website to see if the shuttle is available on the day that you will be visiting.

Purchase your tickets to visit Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte today!

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