Vaux-le-Vicomte Castle Review

It’s always a joy for my wife and me to travel with our children through the French countryside. We truly love the landscapes and the rustic charm, where the sky feels bluer and the trees greener than anywhere else.

This time, we chose to visit the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte. While it may not be as opulent as Versailles, I find it a more enjoyable experience—there are fewer crowds, and the atmosphere feels more personal and relatable.

Le Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte

The Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte is a stunning 17th-century baroque estate located just outside Paris. Known for its harmonious architecture and exquisite formal gardens designed by André Le Nôtre, it served as the inspiration for the Palace of Versailles.

With fewer tourists than its more famous counterpart, the château offers a more intimate and peaceful visit, where history, art, and nature blend beautifully. It’s a true hidden gem for lovers of French heritage.

Our experience

You can easily book your tickets online for an affordable price of 18 euros. Entry is free for children under four, but don’t forget to reserve their tickets too.

Having visited many castles before, we had a general idea of what to expect—but what we appreciated most about this one was its unique blend of grandeur and warmth. It felt luxurious, yet also like a place that was genuinely lived in.

To be honest, our main goal was to capture some unique portraits—and in that regard, the experience far surpassed Versailles. While Versailles may be more polished in appearance, the absence of crowds at Vaux-le-Vicomte gave us the rare luxury of taking our time and shooting photos without anyone else in the frame.

Right from the entrance, you get a distinct vibe—as if you’re stepping into a rustic barn that’s been repurposed as both a souvenir shop and the main entry point.

Vaux-le-Vicomte Castle is smaller than Versailles, yet still quite expansive with plenty to explore. The architecture stands out as unique, offering a different charm. For us, the most fascinating areas were the underground spaces, where we could explore the cave, the kitchen, the utensils used, and even a kind of food storage.

I recall that as a child, there were some of La Fontaine’s works illustrated in this very section. One of the aspects that fascinated me the most was exploring the living and working spaces of the servants to get a sense of how people lived during that era.

We’ve always wondered how people lived in the past, whether they were hosting an event or simply spending time with family. In this sense, the castle feels very down-to-earth and we can almost picture how life was at this era.

This château reminds us, in terms of atmosphere, of our visit to the Château de Champs-sur-Marne, but on a grander scale. Some rooms are truly stunning, and certain color tones—even pale yellow, white, and black—evoke memories of French colonial architecture in Vietnam.

Verdict

8.2 out of 10.

For us, the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte is the perfect spot to spend a spring weekend day. It provides a serene escape with ample open space, ideal for unwinding and capturing beautiful photographs.

The only downside is that visiting the dome costs an additional 5 euros per person, though I recall it being a fantastic location for photography.

There are countless beautiful compositions perfect for creating mesmerizing portraits, including the iconic road lined with symmetrical trees, which is a well-known spot.

If, like us, you’re looking to visit a château in the Île-de-France region away from the tourist crowds, this one is an ideal choice.