Candlelit Evenings of Vaux-le-Vicomte

Candlelit Evenings: When Vaux-le-Vicomte Lights Up with a Thousand Fires

The Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, a 17th-century architectural gem located in Maincy in Seine-et-Marne, is the result of the collaboration of three geniuses: architect Louis Le Vau, painter Charles Le Brun, and gardener André Le Nôtre, brought together by the superintendent of finances Nicolas Fouquet. Since 1980, this exceptional historic monument—which inspired Versailles—has offered its legendary Candlelit Evenings every summer, a nocturnal spectacle that has become mythical.

2,000 Candles for an Enchanted Night

The concept is as simple as it is spectacular: every Saturday evening from mid-May to the end of September, 2,000 candles are lit at dusk in the castle's salons, along the pathways, and in the parterres of the French garden. This flickering, warm light transforms the estate into a fairytale setting, where every perspective designed by Le Nôtre reveals a new beauty under the wavering glow of the flames.

Water Features and Fireworks

At dusk, the garden's fountains come to life, adding the murmur of water to the ballet of lights. The evening reaches its climax at 11 PM with a gold and silver firework display launched from the garden's perspective, accompanied by the voice of André Dussollier reading a text by Jean de La Fontaine—a tribute to the famous fabulist who was a friend of Nicolas Fouquet and a witness to the castle's inaugural fête in 1661.

A Candlelit Dinner in the Historic Salons

Visitors can extend the experience by booking a candlelit dinner in the castle's salons, a gastronomic experience in an exceptional historic setting. A champagne bar is also set up in the gardens, allowing guests to enjoy a drink while contemplating the spectacle of candles reflecting in the pools.

The First Candlelit Castle in France

Vaux-le-Vicomte was the first castle in France to offer candlelit night tours, starting in 1980. This pioneering initiative, born from the imagination of the de Vogüé family, owners of the estate, has since inspired many other heritage sites. But the original retains an incomparable magic: the scale of the estate, the perfection of the gardens, and the architectural splendor of the castle give the Candlelit Evenings a unique dimension in the French cultural landscape.

An Unmissable Summer Event

With over forty years of existence, the Candlelit Evenings of Vaux-le-Vicomte have become a classic of living heritage in the Île-de-France region. Each season, tens of thousands of visitors come to experience this romantic and magical event, making the castle one of the most visited heritage sites in Seine-et-Marne during the summer.