French Château guided tour

French Château guided tour & etiquette lesson

In a rare and unique opportunity, join the Count de Vogüé on a tour of his family’s château, Vaux-le-Vicomte! You’ll also get to take part in a lesson in French etiquette and table manner traditions. 

Grab your powdered wig and follow in the footsteps of Louis XIV (The “Sun King”), Nicolas Fouquet, Charles Le Brun, and Molière, as you virtually explore the stunning Baroque Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, just 55 kilometres outside Paris.

Join the Count de Vogüé as he guides us through his impressive home and teaches us about the fascinating historic moments that took place there. Stay tuned for a class in French etiquette and learn about proper table manners to use at a formal dinner (or at home in lockdown with your family).

Built on swampland Versailles was not known for its pleasant scent, it is no surprise that the 18th century marked a turning point for perfumery.

Tastemakers: Nicolas Fouquet & King Louis XIV

History frames the relationship between King Louis XIV and his minister Nicolas Fouquet as tumultuous, but they actually had a lot in common, especially when it came to artistic vision. This virtual exhibition from the Château de Versailles, Louis XIV/Nicolas Fouquet: A Certain History of Taste, gives fascinating insight into how Vaux-le-Vicomte was an inspiration for the Sun King’s famed Versailles Palace. Learn more about their shared love of art, architecture, interior decoration, landscape gardening, and how they collaborated with the best artists of their time.

Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte is not as well known as Versailles however it was considered a model for Versailles.

Restoration Heroes: Saving a Masterpiece

The work of maintaining and restoring the grand, 370-year-old Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte is never done, especially for the De Vogüé family. Hear from Alexandre De Vogüé and the team of expert restorers who painstakingly worked to conserve one of the château’s masterpieces — the ceiling mural of the Chambre des Muses, created by “the greatest French painter of all time,” Charles le Brun. Magnifique!

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