Château deVaux-le-Vicomte
The château Nicolas Fouquet built in 1661, and the building that got him arrested: Louis XIV saw it, understood he had been outdone, jailed his finance minister and hired the same three men, Le Vau, Le Brun and Le Nôtre, to build Versailles.
Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte is a castle destination wedding venue in Maincy, France, hosting 60 to 250 guests in the $$$$ price range, reached from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), ~1 hr 10 by car. Best months: June, July, August, October.
Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte in Maincy, open June – August, October.
The château Nicolas Fouquet built in 1661, and the building that got him arrested: Louis XIV saw it, understood he had been outdone, jailed his finance minister and hired the same three men, Le Vau, Le Brun and Le Nôtre, to build Versailles.
It is still privately owned, by the Vogüé family, and it is the largest privately held historic monument in France.
For a wedding that means the whole thing closes to the public and the gardens, all 33 hectares of Le Nôtre’s original design, are yours.
The Grand Salon under the dome takes up to 250 for dinner.
4 notes of our own.
Built 1661 by Le Vau, Le Brun and Le Nôtre, the template for Versailles
Largest privately owned historic monument in France, still family-run
Grand Salon takes up to 250 for dinner under the dome
33 hectares of Le Nôtre gardens, closed to the public on the day
Best held in June, July, August.
The months the weather, and the local rhythm, is kindest to a stay at Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte.
Ask about a date.
Choose a day from the calendar.
Nothing is reserved until the venue confirms. A first note comes back within two business days.
How the weekend usually runs.
Yours will be different, nothing below is required. Every planning begins with the three meals you most want to eat, and builds outward.
- 20:00Welcome dinner in Fontainebleau
- 16:00Guests arrive on the forecourt, château closed to the public
- 17:00Ceremony on the south steps above the Le Nôtre parterres
- 18:30Drinks in the gardens, the canal in the distance
- 20:30Dinner in the Grand Salon under the dome
- 23:30Fireworks over the parterres, coaches back at 01:00
Things worth knowing.
CDG · ~1 hr 10 by car
Guests fly into Paris Charles de Gaulle. Our team arranges every transfer.
€150,000
The €50,000 and €4,000 hire figures are the château’s published starting points. The per-head catering band is planner-reported. Room rates are estimated. Nothing here is a quote.
See the full figure+
€150,000 and up for 150 guests; planners report averages far higher
€50,000
A one-time licence and setup fee, paid to the venue.
See the full figure+
Evening reception hire from €50,000; private lunch or dinner space from €4,000 (published)
€350 / head
A seated dinner with wine and service, by headcount.
See the full figure+
€350 to €500 per person through an approved caterer (reported)
€150 / night
A standard room in the wedding window. Group rates on request.
See the full figure+
€150 to €500 per room in Fontainebleau or Melun (estimated)
June – August, October
The 4 months the weather is kindest. Shoulder dates soften the light and the rates.
Figures are estimates, modeled from regional rates and public sources, not a quote from the venue. Once the venue claims this page, their own rates take precedence.
Asked along the way.
How many guests can Vaux-le-Vicomte seat?+
The Grand Salon holds up to 250 for a seated dinner, and the other ceremonial rooms take smaller numbers with the gardens in view. For a large evening reception the château closes to the public entirely, which is what full private hire buys.
What does a wedding at Vaux-le-Vicomte cost?+
Venue hire for a full evening reception starts at €50,000, with overtime billed if you need longer to set up. Smaller private lunches and dinners start nearer €4,000 for the space. Catering is separate and comes from an approved list.
Can we bring our own caterer?+
No. The château works with a short list of approved high-end caterers, most of whom bill €350 to €500 per person. That is the single biggest line in a budget here and it is worth pricing two of them before committing to a date.
Is there accommodation at the château?+
None. Guests stay in Fontainebleau, about 15 minutes away, in Melun, or in Paris, roughly 50 minutes by car. Most couples book a Fontainebleau hotel block and run coaches, because taxis back to Paris late at night are unreliable.
Which airport should international guests use?+
Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is about an hour and ten minutes by car and has the widest long-haul schedule. Orly is closer, at around 45 minutes, and often better for European arrivals. Both need a car or a coach at the far end.
Others to weigh.
Ask about dates at Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte.
A note to us with a rough season and guest count. Nothing is reserved until the venue confirms. A reply comes within two business days, from a person by name.