Castle of Vaux-le-Vicomte | Getting there, at Christmas, prices, restaurants...

One of our favorite family outings

The estate of Vaux-le-Vicomte

Did you know that this magnificent baroque masterpiece inspired the Palace of Versailles?
We love everything at the Domaine de Vaux-le-Vicomte! A visit to the castle with, among other things, the King’s apartments or the Grand Salon, the sumptuous French gardens designed by Le Nôtre, the museum of the crews…
It is a place where it is good to walk with the family and where children are particularly pampered
Activities and events are organised all year round on the occasion of Easter, Christmas or during the school holidays (not included in the entrance ticket)
You can rent small costumes for the children during the visit to the castle

The immersive sound tour (included in the entrance ticket)

It is a spatialised sound journey to discover the fascinating history of Fouquet and the great characters who have marked the history of Vaux-le-Vicomte. You are equipped with headphones with binaural sound or 3D sound (an absolutely stunning sound quality). Mini-sensors detect your presence in each room and the story is told to you on a route (between 30 minutes and 1h30, depending on your movements from room to room). A feat of technology!

The sound trail is included in the price of the entrance ticket.
The adult course: this is “The Fouquet Affair” which will plunge you into the heart of the great hours of the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte. You will relive the intrigues between Nicolas Fouquet, Louis XIV, Le Nôtre, Vatel… This sound tour is offered in French, English, German
The Youth Trail: “The Fabulous Story of Vaux” (written by the writer and playwright Timothée de Fombelle). Through a pretty tale, children will discover the castle accompanied by the characters of Jean de La Fontaine, Fouquet’s friend, and Panache, a flying squirrel (Fouquet’s emblem), the (imaginary) genius of the estate… This audio tour is offered in French and English

These immersive sound journeys were recorded by actors, in period costumes and in the castle. You can hear the crackling of the fireplace, the creaking of the parquet floor and the rustling of fabrics… A remarkable theatrical staging. These two courses can be done simultaneously and at the same pace. This sound tour does not replace the audio guides (also included in the ticket price).

Vaux-le-Vicomte with the children

Visit the castles in period costume : you can rent period costumes for children (from 2 to 14 years old) and adults. Rental rate: €4 for children and €6 for adults.
The riddle booklet (one for 6-9 year olds and another for 9-12 year olds) and treasure hunts offered at the entrance with the entrance ticket. They transform the visit of the castle and gardens into an investigation into life in the seventeenth century.
The other games of the Fountain to enjoy the Park: The Hare and the Turtle, the Oak and the Bike, the Lost Morality: + info on the other games of the Fountain

Vaux-le-Vicomte with the family

Electric cart rental (20€ for 45 minutes): very nice and very practical to visit and move around the park and reach the statue of Hercules (at the back of the park). Success guaranteed with children and teenagers!
The river of hell, underground adventure (duration 1h30 approximately): this is a fun and interactive journey through the underground river, diverted by Le Nôtre in 1654. With your feet in the water, equipped with thigh-high boots and a headlamp, you will have to overcome a series of agility and logic tests in the company of a professional actor, based on Jean de la Fontaine’s text “The loves of Psyche and Cupid”. With the family (from 8 years old and minimum 1m30). Price: €75 per game for 2 to 8 players + 1 entry ticket per person. Reservation strongly recommended .

Major annual events

THE TREASURE HUNT DURING THE EASTER HOLIDAYS: children will discover the life of the squirrel, Nicolas Fouquet’s emblem
THE EGG HUNT FOR THE EASTER WEEKEND : Saturday 30, Sunday 31 March and Monday 1 April 2024. More than 85,000 eggs hidden in the groves of the garden, egg hunts for children and 1 hunt for adults (online reservation required). And also creative and gourmet workshops for children, including: engraving, make-up, activities on the theme of chocolate etc.
CANDLELIGHT EVENINGS : every Saturday evening from June 1 to September 28, 2024. Vaux le Vicomte is famous for its visits and candlelit dinners. The Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte and the 33 hectares of gardens designed by Le Nôtre will be lit by candlelight from 5.30 pm.
The show is magical with more than 2000 candles that sparkle throughout the estate (park and castle), refined dinner, water games in the pools and fireworks.
THE GRAND SIÈCLE DAY : Saturday, May 25, 2024. Visit of the Castle and the park in period costume from 11 am to 9:30 pm. Elegance contests, exchanges of advice on costume design and lunches on the grass for this day placed under the sign of aesthetics and pleasure. At nightfall, an intimate atmosphere by candlelight
CHRISTMAS AT THE CASTLE: the magic settles in Vaux-le-Vicomte at Christmas. One show a day, dream decorations, a magnificent tree set up in the Grand Salon and hundreds of candles.