Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte

It's an overcast day when I visit Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte but, there's nothing dreary about this spectacular place. Located 30 miles from Paris and built between 1658-1661 by Nicolas Fouquet, finance minister to King Louis XIV, it's the largest privately-owned home in France. It also served as the inspiration for a much more famous chateau to be built later by King Louis XIV; Chateau de Versailles.

I'm sure you've heard the unwritten rule that it's not good to show up your boss? Well, Nicolas Fouquet didn't heed the rule and it cost him dearly. When his home was completed Fouquet invited King Louis XIV over for a small fest. Well, having 6,000 guests isn't exactly a small fest. So, was the King impressed? You bet, as this place overshadowed the King's own palaces. Two weeks later Louis XIV had Fouquet thrown in prison where he remained until his death 17 years later.

Close-up of the front.

Gotta have a moat.

This is the backside of the main building. When this place was being built there were 18,000 workers onsite.

The gardens and grounds seem to go on forever.

The grounds extend a mile and a half into the distance. In fact, you can rent golf carts to traverse the grounds.

This is a waiting room.

Main library.

That's a portrait of Nicolas Fouquet on the wall.

The ceilings in the various rooms are spectacular.

Another ceiling.

One of the outer buildings houses a spiffy collection of horse carriages.

Only a sampling.