Chateaux Vaux-le-Vicomte

After lunch at Laudree, we traveled 34 miles South of Paris to visit the Chateaux Vaux-le-Vicomte.  Constructed from 1658 to 1661 for Nicolas Fouquet, Marquis de Belle Île, Viscount of Melun and Vaux, the superintendent of finances of Louis XIV, the château was an influential work of architecture in mid-17th-century Europe. At Vaux-le-Vicomte, the architect Louis Le Vau, the landscape architect André le Nôtre, and the painter-decorator Charles Le Brun worked together on a large-scale project for the first time. Their collaboration marked the beginning of the "Louis XIV style" combining architecture, interior design and landscape design. The garden's pronounced visual axis is an example of this style.

The perfect harmony between architecture and landscape is the result of their collaborative genius. From its unveiling at the famous fête of august 17th, 1661, Vaux le Vicomte aroused the envy of the Sun King and became the model that inspired the whole of Europe, including Versailles.

When we arrived, the chateau was covered by dark clouds and sheets of rain, by the time we had bought our tickets and taken a quick stroll around the gift shop, the rain had stopped and we were pleased to find a rainbow in it's wake.

Our memorable evening at Vaux-Le-Vicomte began with macarons and searching for mermaids in the moat, Vienne is positive she saw at least one...

Then we rented a golf cart to take a tour of the spacious gardens before the sun went down. Reece was our driver, he transformed into a very informative, French tour guide and pointed out several items of interest during our drive. It was an hour filled with giggles.

After our delightful tour of the gardens, we took a self guided tour through the chateau 

When we exited the chateau after our tour, we were greeted by a pleasant cotton candy sky.

We had planned our visit around an evening of candle light and fireworks that Vaux-le-Vicomte does on the weekends in the summer. We were lucky enough to get tickets to one of the last events of the season. When we left to find something for dinner, we noticed they had started setting out one of the candles.

We ate at the cafe on the chateau grounds, it was cafeteria style and wasn't the most fantastic meal, but it was enjoyable enough. The cafe was also getting ready for the evening of candle light which made for a magical ambiance.

After dinner, the sun had completely set, so the candles glowed brightly in the dark

Seeing this majestic castle lit up by hundreds of candles was a once in a lifetime experience, it was unbelievably beautiful, and unlike anything I had ever seen.

The gardens were lined with candles as well.

We claimed our seats on the chateau's back steps and waited for the fireworks to begin!

The firework show was let off across the gardens, and was done all in white and gold. It was magnificent.

After the gorgeous firework show, we were excited to get home and bundle up in our sweats and blankets. It was a surprisingly cold evening and waiting for the fireworks had chilled us to the bone, but I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else!