Castles of France: Vaux le Vicomte

You know the castle of Vaux le Vicomte? It is a beautiful manor house located 60 kilometers south of Paris, near Melun. The two-story building is dominated by a large dome and is surrounded by beautiful gardens (this year we celebrate the 400th anniversary of the birth of André Le Nôtre, founder of the Garden Art which has greatly enriched the noble residences of France ). The visit of the great structure also leads to discover the groundwater and the old kitchen with the roof at times. Opened in August the 17th , 1661, Vaux le Vicomte is the envy of the Sun King and became the model for many other castles in France and Europe. It can be described as a mansion with a remarkable history and waiting to be discovered.

Vaux le Vicomte
Vaux le Vicomte

The castle is open until November, from 10:00 to 18:00, every day. On Saturday evening there are visits by candlelight, from 19:00 to 24:00. The entrance ticket cost 16 Euros per person (8 euro only for the gardens). The novelty of 2013 is the shuttle bus service coming directly from Paris: starting from the rue des Pyramides with Cityrama-ParisVision and proceeds with a guided tour of the castles of Vaux le Vicomte and Fontainebleau in one day (then it returns to Paris).

Vaux le Vicomte Front View
Vaux le Vicomte Front View
Vaux le Vicomte Interior
Vaux le Vicomte Interior
Vaux le Vicomte Side View
Vaux le Vicomte Side View

And if you are in the area, remember that on Saturday, September the 14th  the castle of Vaux le Vicomte will be the setting for a wonderful dinner by candlelight: more than two thousand lights moved by the wind will be lighting the darkness of the gardens and hundreds of small tables arranged around the pond welcoming those who want to enjoy an unforgettable dinner. The guests will have on the table: table cloths, food, and any decorations that they will take from home. Everything must follow the color theme of the evening thus being white and green. The highlight of the event will be the fountains and the fireworks.

By Alba V

Vaux le Vicomte on map


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Photos:fazh

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