Nicolas Fouquet has spent enormous sums in…

Nicolas Fouquet has spent enormous sums in building a magnificent château on his estate of Vaux-le-Vicomte, located in Maincy, near Melun, fifty-five kilometers southeast of Paris, which in extent, magnificence, and splendor of decoration is a forecast of Versailles, and where he has brought together three artists that the King will later take up for Versailles: the architect Louis Le Vau, the painter Charles Le Brun, and the garden designer André le Nôtre.

Here he has gathered the rarest manuscripts, paintings, jewels and antiques in profusion, and above all surrounded himself with artists and authors.

The table is open to all people of quality, and the kitchen is presided over by François Vatel, Jean de La Fontaine, Pierre Corneille, and Paul Scarron are a few of the many artists who have enjoyed his patronage.