Take a tour of the seventeenth century castle and gardens that inspired the design of the Palace of Versailles. Author and Estate Owner Alexandre de Vogüé will guide a virtual tour of the estate, share its history, and relate his personal experiences with his book A Day at Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte. The event will take place on March 22 at 6:30 pm at the Dallas Institute.
Vaux-le-Vicomte’s rich history began in 1641 when infamous Finance Minister Nicolas Fouquet bought the estate and enlisted architect Louis le Vau, decorator Charles le Brun, and garden designer Andre Le Notre to transform it into a lavish residence. His extravagance piqued Louis XIV’s jealousy, and he was thrown into prison for mishandling funds.
“A key part of the Dallas Institute’s mission is to seek out beauty in all its cultural forms,” remarked Dr. Larry Allums, Executive Director of the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture. “Vaux-le-Vicomte uniquely qualifies, and we anticipate a memorable experience with Alexandre de Vogüé.”
A Day at Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte traces the château’s history from the seventeenth-century through the Belle Époque, World War I, and its public opening in 1968. Exclusive photography and archival documents offer unprecedented access to the château, furnishings and gardens, and illuminate the extraordinary secrets of court life and centuries of celebrations that include the enchanting candlelit tours held today.
Brothers Alexandre de Vogüé, Jean-Charles de Vogüé, and Ascanio de Vogüé authored the volume and manage the ancestral estate. Photography is from the Vaux-le-Vicomte private collection and was taken by Bruno Ehrs.
A Day at Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte will take place on Thursday, March 22, 6:30 pm at The Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture at 2719 Routh Street, Dallas. The event is $20 and includes a pre-event reception. Reservations can be made through dallasinstitute.org or by phone at 214-871-2440.
