Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte Today
The de Vogüé family have over the past 150 years, devoted themselves to restoring and maintaining the chateau, forging ties with universities and schools. They bought furniture and ornaments of the right period, piece by piece and returned the garden to its original design. Their aim is to make sure Vaux-le-Vicomte's legacy is protected for future generations to enjoy.
Despite its grandeur and captivating beauty, this place is nevertheless still a home. Alexander de Vogüé, son of the Count and Countess who live there, and often spotted wandering around, recalls playing here as a child, hurrying to hide his toys behind the curtains before chateau visitors arrived. These days his parents live in a wing of the chateau, and, with 300,000 visitors a year things are run more professionally.
Vaux-le-Vicomte today retains an air of the past. In winter fires are lit to warm the rooms. At Christmas this stunning palace comes alive with magnificent decorations,
festive rides, snow and seasonal music, and,
Video tells history of the chaeau in under 4 minutes with beautiful imagery
by the way, the gift shop is superb, the Countess personally chooses all the merchandise.
Look out for squirrels, a nod to the past and Fouquet. His name means squirrel in French and he had the furry red creature depicted in paintings on the walls, ceilings and shutters over the grand windows (below right).
Rent a costume from the chateau shop, it's just 3 euros for kids and adults, dress up like a King or Queen as you wander the rooms and grounds.
Go on a Saturday night in summer months and enjoy the spellbinding sight of 2000 candles in the gardens and some of the rooms.
Seeing the chateau in the mellow candle light really makes the place feel special, and sends shivers down your spine at the thought that this is just how it would have looked that fateful summer's night in 1661...