Christmas 2015: The Castle of Vaux-le-Vicomte, France

by - December 30, 2015


I don't know about you, but the few days after Christmas are always quite sad for me. The magic is over, and although we have New Year's Eve to look forward to, it is definitely not the same atmosphere. When I read about the castle of Vaux-le-Vicomte's Christmas displays, I knew I had to see them! And my friends and I weren't disappointed, as you can see from the pictures above.
Vaux-le-Vicomte is a beautiful castle that was built in the middle of the 17th century. At the time, it was considered one of the most extravagant and majestic places, so much so that Louis XIV, after having seen the castle in its full glory during a party, was so jealous that he decided to condemn Fouquet, the owner of the castle and his Superintendent of Finances, to lifelong emprisonment. And he also decided to build something that would outshine anything that the country had ever seen before... any guesses as to what place I'm referring to? ;)
For Christmas, the castle is adorned with lights, decorations and trees. The fireplaces are lit and create a warm, cosy atmosphere that makes you almost feel at home. In every room, little elves have created amazing displays based on different themes; I loved the room full of woodland animals, and the circus room was also amazing to look at. In the grand salon, a Ferris wheel was squeezed in, and you can see it turn round and round from the outside of the castle. The weather was beautiful that day, and it felt like a calm Autumn day. The gardens are a nice place to go for a peaceful walk. The perspective and regularity of French gardens will never seize to impress me, there is just something so satisfying about standing at one end of the endless gardens and stare at their infinite grounds and fountains. 

This is a place definitely worth visiting. It is a small castle on a grand estate, and a fantastic piece of history and architecture. If you want to see something different from Paris, there are some other amazing places to explore. I hope to make you discover them! :)

What do you think about these Christmas displays? Do you have any beautiful castles in the area where you live?

Lots of love,
Julia x

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8 commentaires

  1. omg! it's incredibly festive! and I adore the funny choice to put a giraffe in it!!(:
    happy holidays my dear(:

    Cate ღ kate/idoscope | youtube

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    1. Yes, who thought giraffes could actually look Christmassy haha! xx

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  2. Wow what amazing photos! That is such a beautiful castle and it looks amazing donned for christmas. Beautiful! You're so lucky having so many pretty places close by, we don't have any castles in my town.
    Also, I agree about the emptiness of after Christmas, it's like some magic is gone. But NYE is around the corner, so here's to that!
    Much love,
    Mona

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    1. Thanks Mona! I always complain about where I live, but then I read comments like yours or that of Georgia below and I realise the area around me is quite cool indeed. Are there any palaces or castles anywhere else in Sweden? I know you have amazing landscapes anyways :D
      It's true, we have to celebrate NYE and be happy for the year to come! xx

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  3. This Castle and its grounds look absolutely stunning. I can imagine that it's such a calming place to be. You're so lucky to live near such beautiful places that you can visit whenever you want. With each blog post, you make me want to visit Paris more and more! :) xx

    http://blossomingdaydreams.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. This place was very peaceful indeed, there weren't many visitors until the late afternoon so we had the place almost for ourselves the whole day. France has some amazing sights to offer, that's for sure! I'm glad you're liking the visit :D xx

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