TITLE Vaux-le-Vicomte – Where Magical Beauty Meets The Turbulent History LEAD PARAGRAPH Uniqueness of the château Vaux-le-Vicomte lies in the fact that its style and beauty had inspired the creation of the much more famous Versailles, the favourite residence of Louis XIV, the Sun King. Unlike Versailles, however, Vaux-le-Vicomte’s turbulent history reveals a great deal of treachery and misfortune brought to its owners and, especially, its creator. In its case, the statement that “great beauty comes only with the great price” couldn’t be truer. PARAGRAPHS Vaux-le-Vicomte’s history in a few words The creator of this magnificent chateau was Nicolas Fouquet, Louis XIV’s Superintendent of Finances, who was a great patron of art. He was a longtime ally of Louis XIV, the one that played an important role in quelling the …show more content…
The man who invented the French formal-style garden improved the optical illusion approach, which resulted in the infinite space sensation. As you walk its terraced gardens, you’ll discover ponds, flower beds and geometric patterns (featuring various shapes) previously concealed from an ordinary eye. So, once you leave the chateau encircled by a water canal, take your time to explore the splendid gardens dotted with sculptures, fountains, additional canals, alleys and hidden paths. As you make your way through majestic gardens, you’ll discover huge amphorae with flowers, sculptures inspired with mythological events (abduction of Europe by Zeus, for example), deities or people (Hercules), wild animals (lions), etc. As you approach the hill from which the huge statue of Hercules oversees the chateau and the gardens, you’ll discover grottos symbolizing different things. In the Water Mirror, you can admire the reflections of the chateau, dry grotto and other beauties yet to be