Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte

The Basics

When visiting Vaux-le-Vicomte you can explore inside Nicolas Fouquet’s extravagant palace, where highlights include the King’s Room, Grand Salon, and the basement kitchens. Then take in the view from the Dome, stroll through the formal gardens, and visit the carriage museum. It’s possible to visit independently on an audio-guided tour, take a group or private tour from Paris, or even combine a Vaux-le-Vicomte tour with a visit to nearby attractions like Château Fontainebleau.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Plan at least three hours to visit the palace and gardens.

• Visitor facilities include gift shops, a bar, restaurants, picnic areas, and free parking.

• Audio guides are available in nine languages.

• The ground floor of the palace and the gardens are accessible to wheelchair users, and electric golf carts are also available for rent. Strollers are not allowed inside the palace.

How to Get There

Vaux-le-Vicomte is just 34 miles (55 kilometers) southeast of Paris, around a 1-hour drive. To arrive by public transportation, take the train to Provins from Paris’ Gare de l’Est and get off at Verneuil l’Etang train station, from where the Châteaubus shuttle runs to the château. Alternatively, catch the train from Paris’ Gare de Lyon station to Melun station, from where it’s a short taxi ride.

When to Get There

The palace is open to the public daily from mid-March to the start of November. The busiest time is during July and August, when an early morning tour offers the best chance of avoiding the crowds. Alternatively, the most atmospheric time to visit is during the Candlelight Visits, held on Friday and Saturday nights from May to October, when the estate is illuminated with over 2,000 candles, live classical music is played in the garden, and champagne is served.

Architectural Highlights of Vaux-le-Vicomte

Built for aristocrat Nicolas Fouquet during the reign of King Louis XIV, Vaux-le-Vicomte is a remarkable example of 17th-century French Baroque style. The brainchild of architect Louis Le Vau, landscaper André le Nôtre, and designer Charles Le Brun, it’s known for its striking facade, dramatic dome, and lavishly decorated interiors, complete with gilded walls, statues, tapestries, and the era’s finest furnishings. The gardens are equally stunning, with fountains, canals, and stone curbs that create an optical illusion depending on your viewpoint. In fact, the estate is so extravagant, it’s thought to be part of the reason that Fouquet was eventually accused of embezzling state funds and the king imprisoned him until his death.

Ways to explore

You can visit Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte independently, and an immersive surround-sound audio guide is included with your ticket; there’s a version for adults and one created for kids over 6 years old. Explore the chateau’s lavishly decorated interiors, from private apartments to the kitchens, look around a carriage museum, stroll through the formal gardens, and climb the dome lantern for views across the state. Many tours are available from Paris, which arrange all transportation and include the services of a guide—choose from group or private excursions. Some itineraries pair the chateau with other attractions, such as Château de Fontainebleau.

Accessibility

The gardens and the Carriage Museum are accessible to travelers using wheelchairs, although some gravel paths may prove challenging. The interior is not accessible due to the historic nature of the building, with steps leading to the ground floor and no elevator to the first floor. Accessible restrooms are located at the estate’s entrance, and wheelchairs are available for loan.

Age limits

None; strollers are not permitted inside the chateau, but there is a designated area to park them.

What to pack

Camera, sunscreen, sunglasses

What to wear

Comfortable footwear, layered clothing for varying temperatures indoors and out

Not allowed

Flash photography, tripods, animals (except guide dogs), strollers in the chateau

Amenities

Gift store, restaurant, snack kiosk, restrooms with baby-changing facilities

Address

The Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte is 34 miles (55 kilometers) southeast of Paris, around a 1-hour drive. You can drive, take public transport, or book a tour with transportation from the French capital included.

Driving

Take the A4 or A6 motorway from Paris, follow signs to Troyes via the A5, then take exit 15 and follow signs for the chateau. On-site parking is free.

Public transportation

From Paris Gare de Lyon, board the RER R train to Melun Station, then take a taxi or the Chateaubus shuttle. The total travel time is around 40 minutes.

Best times to visit

Arrive early in the morning to avoid the afternoon crowds. Alternatively, plan a late afternoon visit to attend the annual Candlelit Evening events.

Best days to visit

Plan a trip for a Saturday if visiting between late May and late September, when the annual Candlelit Evening experiences see the whole estate lit up by thousands of candles.

Best months to visit

The shoulder season months of June and September offer smaller crowds than peak summer; Candlelit Evening events are available then, too.

Special events

During April, the chateau hosts Easter egg hunts across the estate on multiple weekends. In May, Grand Siècle Day features parades, performances, and fireworks.