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- 1. 50 years since the opening of Vaux le Vicomte Castle to the public
- 2. 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of Vaux le Vicomte Castle to the public. A series of events throughout the year celebrates the occasion.
- 3. 2018 Season
- 4. Practical Information
- 5. How to get from Paris to Vaux-le-Vicomte:
- 6. Discounts and gifts for Conexão Paris readers
- 7. Subscribe to the newsletter and receive updates from Conexão Paris
50 years since the opening of Vaux le Vicomte Castle to the public
2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of Vaux le Vicomte Castle to the public. A series of events throughout the year celebrates the occasion.
The construction of Vaux le Vicomte Castle began in 1656 by Nicolas Fouquet, the Superintendent of Finances and Attorney General of the Paris Parliament. The ensemble-building, decoration, and gardens-was created by three great artists of the time: architect Louis le Vau, painter Charles le Brun, and landscape designer André le Nôtre, who were given free rein to express their talents and realize their ideas.
The castle was inaugurated on August 17, 1661, with a lavish party attended by the young King Louis XIV. Legend has it that, days later, consumed by jealousy, Louis XIV ordered D'Artagnan to arrest Fouquet. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1664 and died in Pignerol in 1680. In fact, Louis XIV had already decided, two months before the festivities, to imprison Fouquet due to suspicions about his wealth.
After Fouquet's imprisonment, the king immediately summoned the trio who conceived Vaux le Vicomte-Le Vau, Le Brun, and Le Nôtre-to reform Versailles, transforming it into the palace we know today.
In 1875, Vaux was purchased by industrialist Alfred Sommier, who made his fortune in the sugar industry, and it has been passed down from generation to generation to the current owners, the brothers Ascanio, Jean-Charles, and Alexandre de Vogüé.
The castle was opened to the public on March 30, 1968, by the couple Patrice and Cristina de Vogüé, parents of Ascanio, Jean-Charles, and Alexandre. The idea was an enormous success in its first year of operation, and visitor numbers continue to grow each year. In 2015, there were 300,000 visitors.
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2018 Season
For the 2018 season, the castle will open its doors on March 17, inaugurating a year of celebrations and special events.
- Free entry until March 30 for all those born in 1968.
- Vaux le Vicomte celebrates Easter: games and activities for children. Easter egg hunt in the castle gardens; cooking workshops; chocolate sculpture exhibition inside the castle. When: March 31, April 1 and 2. Click here for more information and to purchase your ticket.
- The Fountain Games: a thrilling adventure in the underground river diverted by Le Nôtre in 1654 during the creation of the castle gardens. The course is based on Jean de la Fontaine's text "Les Amours de Psyché et Cupidon." Guided by professional actors portraying the characters from the text, visitors equipped with headlamps and knee-high rubber boots must overcome a series of agility and logic tests. When: every weekend and holidays from April 14 to November 4. Click here to reserve your spot.
- Candlelight Evenings: every Saturday night from May to October, Vaux le Vicomte offers its visitors a chance to rediscover the site illuminated by 2,000 candles, lighting up the castle and French garden. A refined romantic dinner, a champagne bar, and macarons will complete this enchanting evening. Fireworks cap off each of these magical nights. When: every Saturday night from May to October. Click here for more information and to purchase your ticket.
- Grand Siècle Day: a day for lovers of period costumes to parade through the castle and its gardens, where Baroque dances blend with musketeer shows and carriage rides, providing a unique experience of the art de vivre française during the time of Louis XIV and Nicolas Fouquet. This year, several reproductions of famous paintings will be scattered throughout the gardens. When: June 3.
- Vaux le Vicomte celebrates Christmas: for the past 12 years, Vaux le Vicomte has dressed up to welcome Christmas. Inside the castle, several of its salons are richly decorated with Christmas themes. There is a complete immersion of the senses where each environment also has its own scent (gingerbread, hot chocolate, etc.) and soundtracks. To top it off, the crackling of fireplaces and the warmth that emanates from them. When: approximately from November 24 to January 7 (official dates to be confirmed).
Practical Information
Open from March 17 to November 4, 2018. Tickets: €16.50 for adults; €14.50 for children aged 6 to 17; free for children under 6 years old. €12.50.
How to get from Paris to Vaux-le-Vicomte:
- On your own: take the R line commuter train or the RER D train from Gare de Lyon to the city of Melun. Then, take a taxi or Uber to the castle; this ride takes about 10 minutes.
- By tour also including Fontainebleau Castle. Round trip from Paris by minibus and tickets included. Click here for more information and to make your reservation.
- By rental car. The trip takes about 50 minutes, click here to get a quote from the leading car rental companies in France.
Discounts and gifts for Conexão Paris readers
- GALERIES LAFAYETTE: Gifts on purchases over 50 euros made at the Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, click here for more information and to download vouchers.
- FRAGRANCE DE L'OPÉRA PERFUMERY: €10 off for every €150 spent at Fragrance de l'Opéra - click here for all information and to download the voucher.
- CARRÉ OPÉRA PHARMACY: 10% off on purchases made at Carré Opéra Pharmacy - click here for all information and to download the voucher.
- HOTEL SAINT ANDRES DES ARTS (charming 4-star hotel in Saint Germain): 10% off + 1 bottle of wine + breakfast - use the code paris-story.com when making your reservation on the hotel site, click here to access.
- TRAVEL INSURANCE: 5% off when you purchase your Travel Insurance using the code paris-story.com. Travel insurance is one of the documents that may be required for entry into Europe, click here to learn more.
- TICKETS: 5% off tickets, tours, and activities sold on Tiqets using the code paris-story.com, click here to access the site.