In the early seventeenth century, between the royal residences of Vincennes and Fontainebleau, a small castle stood at the confluence of two small rivers. The domain was called Vaux-le-Vicomte: it was then just a place on the map and its reputation had still to be made. In 1641 a 26 year-old parliamentarian, Nicolas Fouquet, purchased the estate. Fifteen years later the first stone of a unique masterpiece was laid; it was to be the finest château and garden in France. This achievement was brought about through the collaboration of three men of genius whom Fouquet had chosen for the task: the architect Le Vau, the painter-decorator Le Brun and the landscape gardener Le Nôtre. The artistic and cultivated sensibility of their patron was a great stimulus to their talents.
They were not alone; the poet La Fontaine, Molière, playwright and actor, Madame de Sévigné, Pellisson and Scarron formed the circle around this great patron of literature and the arts.

Vaux-le-Vicomte was, moreover, the setting for one of the finest "fêtes" or celebrations, of the seventeenth century. It was lavish, refined, and dazzling to behold, but rich in hidden drama. The King had asked to visit, to throw Fouquet off the scent; secretly he had decided that Fouquet would die. Overcome with joy at the chance of parading Vaux-le-Vicomte before the sovereign whose faithful servant he remained, Fouquet assumed that he would take over the post of prime minister vacated by Cardinal Mazarin.
Two weeks later Fouquet was arrested. He was never to leave prison alive.
It may have been under threat of abandon or destruction, but Vaux-le-Vicomte has survived, thanks to the unfailing determination of three centuries of dedicated individuals. Resplendent today as it was in former times, Vaux-le Vicomte stands as a symbol of the intelligence, taste and independence of its creator, Nicolas Fouquet.

August 17, 1661

It was a beautiful summer's day. Nicolas Fouquet and his wife officially opened Vaux-le-Vicomte in the presence of the King, who had expressed a desire to see the recent improvements, together with the Queen Mother and part of the Court. After the heat of the day died down, the guests followed their Royal Highnesses into the gardens and marveled at all the lakes and fountains, at the lawns, terraces and flowers, at the awesome grottoes and cascades and at the peerless view. Returning from their walk, a meal was served in the château, then everyone hurried to the edge of the woods for the entertainment; "Les Facheux", a ballet-comedy written and played by Molière. As the curtain went down, a fireworks display started over the grottoes, reflected in the mirror-like surface of the Great Canal, where a giant whale let off more fireworks. After the last explosion, the King headed back to the château when suddenly hundreds of rockets shot up from the dome of the building, forming an arch of flame in the night sky.

This unprecedented enchanting celebration, the model of royal "fêtes" to come, marked the high point of Fouquet's career, as he himself had no reason to doubt. Only the King, the Queen Mother and Colbert knew that he was in fact only hours from his fall. For Louis XIV to witness such applause going to someone else, to visit a home more luxurious than his old palaces and a magical garden, were trials for his self-esteem that were hard to endure, and they fueled his desire to destroy the minister. Were it not for the Queen Mother's advice he would have had Fouquet arrested on the spot. Later Voltaire was to sum up the famous fête thus: "On 17 August, at six in the evening Fouquet was the King of France: at two in the morning he was nobody."

From 1705 to today

After Nicolas Fouquet was arrested and imprisoned for life, and his wife exiled, Vaux-le-Vicomte was place under sequestration. The King seized, confiscated, and occasionally purchased, 120 tapestries, the statues, all the orange trees and much more besides. Madame Fouquet had to wait patiently for ten years to recover her property and she retired there with her eldest son. After her husband's death in 1680, her son died too. In 1705 she decided to put Vaux-le-Vicomte up for sale.The greatest military leader in the kingdom, a Duke and French Peer, the Maréchal de Villars, became the new owner although he had never even set eyes on the place. The man who had risen in rank by means of his sword and won the war against Spain at Denial, grew fond of Vaux where, far from his military campaigns, he would relax with his charming wife.

In 1764 the Maréchal's son sold the estate to the Duke of Praslin, whose descendants were to maintain the property for over a century, until, after a thirty year period of neglect, they put it up for sale.

On 6 July, 1875, a discerning bidder, Monsieur Alfred Sommier, acquired Vaux-le-Vicomte at a public auction. The château was empty, some of the outbuildings had fallen into ruin, and the famous gardens were totally overgrown. The huge task of restoration and refurbishment began.

When Alfred Sommier died in 1908, the château and the gardens had recovered their original appearance. His son, Edme Sommier, and his daughter-in-law completed the task. Today, his direct descendants, Patrice and Cristina de Vogüé, are continuing work on the preservation of Vaux-le-Vicomte.