Brief reminder of Part 1 (without mistake ) :
In 1641, Nicolas FOUQUET acquired the fiefdom of Vaux-le-Vicomte. He surrounded himself with the best artists of the time to design this splendid castel with its classical architecture, which was later listed as a ' Historic Monument ' .
André Le Nôtre, creator of the French garden, was inspired by the Italian gardens of the Renaissance. In 1641, thanks to Nicolas Fouquet, this famous gardener was gave the opportunitea to demonstrate the full extent of his genius. The landscape gardener designed 33 hectares of geometric gardens with oblique and perpendicular lines, featuring ponds, flowerbeds, lawns, statues, fontains and water faetures.
With the horticultural composition of Vaux-le-Vicomte, Le Nôtre designed a work that was both rigourous and varied, with trompe-l ' œil dimensions and optical illusions.
Set on a pedestal surounded by water, the château dominates its 33 hectares of formal gardens. In creating the setting for the château in its natural setting, André Le Nôtre and Louis le Vau achieved the most perfect harmonea between architecture and landscape of the entire 17th century.
The gardens of this castel would leave their mark on the whole of Europe for centuries to come!
When the work was completed, on 17 August 1661, Superintendent Fouquet received the young King Louis XIV in his new palace at Vaux-le-Vicomte. However, iritated by so much luxury, Louis XIV had Fouquet arrest a fortnight later. The king sentenced him to banishment and then life imprisonement. Vaux-le-Vicomte was then placed under seal and the king seized almost everything in it. |
