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* Vincennes, Château de
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In The Know
Did You Know?
( Do not miss )
This architectural gem, a 'little Versailles' built before Versailles was even designed, cost its owner, Nicolas Fouquet, his freedom and eventually his life - although much appreciated by the king for his competence in financial matters, he had dared to outdo his master! Fouquet, who had excellent taste, had commissioned the best artists of his time: Le Vau for the building, Le Brun for the decoration and Le Nôtre for the gardens. Louis XIV was invited to a dazzling reception given for the inauguration of the castle in 1661. The King did not take kindly to being outshone: Fouquet was arrested and spent the rest of his life in prison, while Louis XIV commissioned the same artists to build him an even more splendid castle, Versailles.
The castle stands on a terrace overlooking magnificent gardens featuring canals, pools and fountains; walking to the end of the terrace allows an overall view of the gardens and the castle. In the stables is a museum (Musée des Equipages) devoted to horse-drawn carriages.
Address: 51km southeast of Paris. Domaine de Vaux-le-Vicomte, 77950 Maincy
Phone: 01 64 14 41 90
Hours: Mid-Mar to mid-Nov: Mon-Fri 10-1, 2-6, Sat, Sun 10-6. Candlelit visits: mid-May to mid-Oct Thu, Sat 8pm-midnight
Restaurant: Cafeteria (Inexpensive)
Metro: Gare de Lyon to Melun then taxi
Accessible: None
Admission: Expensive
Practical: Shops
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