Nicolas Fouquet had a dream: to build a new kind of palace, more beautiful than ever to delight every person coming to Vaux-le-Vicomte.
But he paid a high price for this dream, which partly conducted the king to doubt about his loyalty and the way he managed the royal budget.
Indeed Fouquet was the king's Superintendant of Finances: young, brilliant, exuberant... His disgrace came so quickly that he didn't really trust it when d'Artagnan arrested him by order of His Majesty. Yet centuries later, the palace continues to amaze the visitors day after day.
Standard duration: 2 hrs to 5 hrs
Price: 250€ for a half day, 350€ for 4 or 5 hrs (up to 10 people) Quote on request for larger groups.
Flat price. Tickets and transports not included. Please contact me for an estimate.
We will see together: Fouquet's appartments, reception appartments, cellar, kitchen, gardens...
For +3€ per person, you can also visit the dome of the palace (the kids can access beyond 4.43 feet high)
Other tours in this region: Palace of Fontainebleau, hiking tours
© Caroline Weber
From what age is the tour recommended?
This tour focus on the personnality of Fouquet and the lifestyle of the 17th century. The tour can easily be followed by children from 6 years old.
How can we go to Vaux-le-Vicomte?
The palace is in the town of Maincy, which is accessible from the railway station of Verneuil l'Etang (line P). A regular service of bus connects Verneuil and Vaux-le-Vicomte. It is possible to meet me at Verneuil train station or immediatly in front of the the palace. Otherwise I can pick you up anywhere in Paris to help you to get tickets and accompany you in public transports or book the services of a private driver for you.
How long is the tour?
The tour of the palace lasts 2 hours but it is more than worthy to enjoy the gardens, so I recommend 3 hours. From the train station, you need to count the time for the bus. If you meet me at the railway station, count about 3.5 hours. Don't forget to calculate your return: there is one direct train per hour and it takes about 35 minutes from Verneuil to Paris.
With the service of a driver, Vaux-le-Vicomte is a 5 hours trip. This tour can be combined with another visit of the east of Paris (Palace of Fontainebleau, hiking tours) if you prefer to spend a full day out of the capital.
Is there a day we cannot visit the palace?
The palace is open every day from mid-March to the end of October. During this period, the site is open every day, including on public holidays.
Is the site crowded?
Most of the time, the site is quiet. Vaux-le-Vicomte is one of these treasures off the beaten track.
Is this visit wheelchair accesible ?
Unfortunately, only the gardens and the ground floor are visible in a wheelchair. Considering the other floors, there are a certain number of steps. A listed building cannot be deeply altered in France, which means there is no elevator. The gardens are hard to access, but it is possible to book a golf cart to see the essential.
Good to know
The service of transports is good to Verneuil and Vaux-le-Vicomte.
There is not much air con in France, including in museums. Don't overdress in summer and get a fan if you can.
Prepare bottles of water if you plan to spend a full day out of Paris. A hat is always a good idea in summer, especially for children.
