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~ The French Masterpiece of the 17th century ~ Vaux-le-Vicomte was built from 1658 to 1661 for Nicolas Fouquet, Marquis de Belle-Isle, Viscount of Melun and Maux, the Surintendant of finances under Louis XIV and Cardinal Mazarin. Created by an unparalleled combination of talents : the architect Louis Le Vau, the landscape gardener André Le Nôtre, and the painter Charles Le Brun, this is one of Europe's finest constructions of its kind and was the model for the Palace of Versailles. Although privately owned by the Comte de Vogüé, the chateau is also designated a Monument Historique and welcomes the general public as visitors. |
Nicolas Fouquet
(1615-1680)
"Just as gentle as he is severe, just as powerful as he is fair"
... A magnificent rising star, who shone even brighter than the later "Sun King",
forgetting that the sun could not endure a rivaling star beside him ...