Chateau Vaux le Vicomte
Built between 1658 and 1661, the magnificent Baroque Château Vaux le Vicomte was the first building in what would become known as the "Louis XIV style". The beautiful château and its expanse of elegant gardens were created for Nicolas Fouquet, King Louis XIV's financial advisor. After rising to a prominent position within the king's circle, Fouquet, an avid patron of the arts, was determined to build an estate to match his ambitions. Fouquet's ambition seemingly knew no bounds; he displaced three villages to ensure that his gardens could be created.
Lavishly decorated throughout, the château was filled with many expensive tapestries and paintings. Soon after its completion, the grand house - and Fouquet - drew the jealous attention of the king, who arrested him, confiscating the château and all its contents. In the early 20th century, Château Vaux le Vicomte was opened to the public and in later years, the building and its impressive grounds have been rightly recognised as a National Historic Monument of France.
