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 new firework display in 2021 to honour the fabulist Jean de la Fontaine!

In honour of the 400th anniversary of Jean de La Fontaine, Fouquet's faithful friend, the estate is staging a new show to close each candlelit evening: firework displays recount this famous celebration thanks to the letter written by La Fontaine to his friend Maucroix!

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. With the **A new fireworks display!

In honour of the 400th anniversary of Jean de La Fontaine, Fouquet's faithful friend, the estate is staging a new show to close each candlelit evening: firework displays recount this famous celebration thanks to the letter written by La Fontaine to his friend Maucroix!

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 macaroons. With the voice of the great French actor André Dussollier, you are transported 360 years back in time to the heart of history!