The Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte

Vocabulary

Video

Transcript

Down a dreamy, tree-lined road, there’s another palace, which was actually the inspiration of Versailles. This is the ravishing Vaux-le-Vicomte.

With an unrivaled harmony of architecture, interior decor, and garden design, it gets my vote for the most beautiful chateau in all of France.

Set in a huge forest with magnificent gardens, Vaux-le-Vicomte is an absolute joy to tour. Compared to Versailles, it’s more intimate and comes with a fraction of the crowds.

Take a stroll over the ornamental moat. Admire the elegance and symmetry of the ensemble. The gardens stretch far beyond the palace, but their main axis runs straight through its center.

In this, the cutting edge of sculpted French formal gardens, the landscaper integrated ponds, shrubbery, and trees in a style that would be copied in palaces all over Europe.

This was the home of Nicolas Fouquet, France’s finance minister during that over-the-top reign of Louis XIV in the 17th century. It all came together when he hired France’s top architect, landscaper, and decorator, a trio known as the “brotherhood of genius.”

With both a blank slate and a blank check, Fouquet’s dream team made his audacious vision a reality. An intriguing part of your visit is a chance to climb through the attic for a peek at timbers and the structure of the roof.

Then you reach the cupola and cap your visit with a commanding view and a chance to survey Fouquet’s domain.

When Vaux-le-Vicomte and Versailles were built, France was heading slowly toward a revolution. Of its population, about 200,000 were clergy — those who pray — 150,000 were the nobles — those who own land — and over 17 million — that’s all the rest — that was the peasantry, the people who work.

Of course, there was no democracy. Just one king and his ministers — people like Nicolas Fouquet — who ran the show. Somewhat like bankers and financiers of today, these people controlled the workings of the economy and amassed unfathomable wealth.

Ultimately, the imbalance reached the point where society burst into revolution.

Questions

Chateaux. The Vaux-le-Vicomte Chateaux lies in the middle of Paris. True or false?

Palace. Is the Vaux-le-Vicomte just a building? Is it plain or lavished? Are there refrigerators and TVs inside the chateaux? What is inside of the chateaux?

Castle, Fortress. Every day, thousands of tourists visit Vaux-le-Vicomte. Is this right or wrong?

Tower, Moat, Gate. Is it possible to go swimming and fishing at the chateaux?

Mansion, Manor. Does it have a small, vegetable garden?

Garden. According to the video, kings, queens, princes and princesses lived in Vaux-le-Vicomte. Is this right or wrong? Is there a photograph of the former owner?

Church, Cathedral. Did ordinary construction workers design and build the chateaux? What is the chateaux made of? Does it have one story?

Aqueduct. All French people lived in chateauxes and mansions. Is this correct or incorrect? Do nobles still live in palaces in France? What happened?
 
 
 
Bridge. There are (many) castles, palaces and fortresses in my region and country. Yes or no? Are they popular tourist attractions? Do many people visit palaces and castles?

Town Hall, City Hall. I have visited (many) different castles and palaces. Would you like to visit different palaces, castles and fortresses in different places?

Plaza, City Square. My friends and I would like to live in a castle or palace.

Market, Marketplace. What might happen in the future?

Concert Hall, Theater, Opera House. Should the government and rich people rebuild castles and palaces? Should rich people build modern, new mansions or old, traditional, classical palaces?