Nicolas Fouquet's Bedchamber

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Games Room

Where popular games like backgammon and basset were played.

 

 

 

 

 

Antechamber of the Hercules Room

Shown is one of only two tables that was original to the chateau. Much of the furniture, paintings and tapestries were confiscated by Louis after Fouquet's arrest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The King's Chambers

Part of the King's Apartments built for Louis at Vaux, if ever he came to visit. Ironically, no King has ever slept here. On August 17, 1661, the night of Fouquet's famous party, Louis arrived at 6:00 p.m. and had left by 1:00 a.m. Each guest was given gifts of silk, diamonds and jewelry. Fouquet spared no expense in entertaining and catering to those in attendance.

There are many who say the King became jealous after seeing Fouquet's wealth and popularity that night. But Louis had carefully planned Fouquet's arrest long before. True, he did become angry that evening, and he did want to have Fouquet arrested on the spot, but his mother, Anne of Austria, convinced him to wait. He did. Two weeks.  Fouquet's arrest date: September 5 th, 1661, Louis' 23rd birthday. A present to himself? :-)

 

 

 

The King's Antechamber

Part of the King's apartments. This room was converted into a library in the 18th century.

Fouquet's library at one time held a collection of twenty-seven thousand volumes, including Korans, Bibles and Talmuds.

 

 

 

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Grand Salon

This beautiful oval-shaped room is the Grand Salon. Its ceiling was never finished.  Due to Fouquet's arrest, Charles Le Brun never painted the final mural. This impressive room leads from the foyer straight to the gardens. 

In Touch Not the Angel, something happens in this room that changes the life of my hero, Simon Boulenger, forever.

     

 

 

 

 

The cellar in Vaux where Simon was held captive in Touch Not the Angel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Play written by Molière in honor of Louis. It was performed for him and all the French court at Fouquet's party on August 17, 1661.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fouquet's emblems are the lion and squirrel. They are found throughout the chateau, including outside carved on its façade. In old French, a fouquet was a squirrel. He adopted the motto "Quo non ascendet". ("To what heights will he not climb?") Too ambitious? :-)

 

 

 

 

 

Letter written by Fouquet. As you can see, he spelled his name, 'Foucquet'. However, according to those at Vaux, both spellings are correct. One has a bit of 'old world charm'.

 

 

 

 

 

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