VAUX LE VICOMTE

Friday, May 01, 2009 (The Twins in front of the Chateau)
What do they say about the plans of mice and men….the best laid ones sometimes
cannot be accomplished for one reason or another. We went off to Fontainebleau to tour the beautiful Chateau that we were only able to get a glimpse of last night to find that it has not yet opened its door to the public for the season. We were able to take photos outside and tour the garden which was lovely…. But not quite the same without the plantings being done in bloom. At least this morning had been an easy trip as we just had to backtrack to where we saw it yesterday…. A mere 15 minute drive away.

Then we had to find our way to Melum, another short trip away, but as usual we took the long way around. After a few turn wrong turn we asked for some directions at the train station, we found a cab driver who spoke a little English. He got us back on the right road and soon we found the lovely tree lined road that led up to Vaux Le Vicomte, a chateau located outside of Melum.

Vaux-le-Vicomte offers a wonderful interior with a good sense of 17th century chateau life. This chateau was the inspiration for Versailles. Louis XIV’s finance minister, Nicolas Fouquet, the owner of the new chateaux threw a party to celebrate his new home. Louis XIV was so jealous that he arrested his host and used his architect, artist and landscaper to construct a bigger and better Chateaux, the Palace of Versailles. This action was later featured in the third Musketeer book by Alexandre Dumas, and at least two versions of “The Man in the Iron Mask” were filmed in this chateaux. Down in the lower levels you can see where he was held a prisoner….. and where they did filming on the movie. Throughout the upper levels they had stages, with people dressed up in period clothing, demonstrating life in the 17th century.

Even though it was sunny outside we did not rent the golf carts for a tour of the estate but we did tour the exhibit of carriages and all the equipment that goes along with owning horses. You have to admire the elegance of the stables; horses lived well here.

A short trip back down the road, only one turn around, and we soon saw the big yellow and black F1 sign behind the McDonalds. This will be our last night in the Formule One system as tomorrow we turn in our car and take the bus into Paris…. To the Young and Happy Hostel.