Vaux-Le-Vicomte is a chateau with a dark past. Not far from the centre of Paris, it was once the home of a favoured Minister of Louis XIV. But he only got to enjoy its beauty for a very short while.

Nicolas Fouquet was the Finance Minister of the King and a man who appreciated the finer things in life. He commissioned the design, décor and landscaping of the Chateau from three of the greatest names of his time. Andre Le Notre, Charles Le Brun and Louis Le Vau were at the height of their creativity and would go on to work on the Chateau of Versailles for the King.

Fouquet wanted to build a chateau fit for royalty. But, he made a mistake. Kings don’t like those below them to have nicer things than themselves and when Louis XIV saw Vaux-Le-Vicomte it set in motion a tale of disaster for his minister.

The night the King arrived the Chateau was still being decorated – in fact it was never finished.

Even today the Chateau is breath-taking in its majestic beauty. No matter how many chateaux you see, this one stands out for the purity of its design, the gorgeous gardens and the fabulous interior.

The gardens of Vaux-le-Vicomte were designed by the master, Le Notre. Today the 33 hectares are beautifully maintained and perfect for a wander. You might even recognise the garden from the Bond film Moonraker! The chateau and gardens were the home of the villain Hugo Drax.

Vaux-le-Vicomte was the inspiration for the Chateau of Versailles. It is today the biggest private residence in France.

The captivating kitchens where the legendary Francois Vatel once prepared a banquet, retain an air of authenticity…

The great French playwright Molliere said of Nicholas Fouquet “On 17 August, at six in the evening Fouquet was the King of France: at two in the morning he was nobody.” Such was the beauty and sumptuousness nature of Vaux-le-Vicomte, the jealous King took it all.

The grand salon looks as it did in the time of King Louis XIV.

Read more about the Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte