Candlelit evenings at Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte

A midsummer night's dream

Imagine a fairy-tale château, lakes, fountains and 33 hectares of French gardens created by famous gardener André Le Nôtre, perfect for meandering. All under the enchanting, flickering light of 2,000 candles! Every summer, the candlelit evenings create even more of a buzz around the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte which inspired the Château de Versailles into being. They conjure up the lavish celebration thrown on 17 August 1661 by Nicolas Fouquet, Superintendent of Finances for King Louis XIV and owner of the estate. The celebration was so lavish that, jealous of the opulence, the Sun King locked Fouquet up for life. But that's another story.

A firework display to honour the fabulist Jean de la Fontaine!

And to round off each candlelit evening, the château and its magnificent gardens are decked out in gold and silver! From 11pm, pyrotechnic displays recount the festivities of 17 August 1661 as recounted by Jean de La Fontaine in a letter to his friend Maucroix! With the voice of French actor André Dussollier, it's like being transported 360 years back in time.

Sit down at the restaurant les Charmilles facing the illuminated garden and castle, or make yourself comfortable at the Songe de Vaux in the garden with a glass of champagne and macarons as you contemplate the fireworks display!

The arrival of summer marks the return of the unmissable sound and light shows.