One of my birthday celebrations was an enchanted evening spent at Vaux le Vicomte totally aglow with candles everywhere. 2000 candles softy lit the gardens, ground, moats, canal and throughout the inside of the château!
I felt like I had been pulled back into another century. If you have read my posts, you know how much I adore candle lit dinners, so having the majority of the rooms of the château glowing with real candles made the ambiance all too ethereal!
The château has a fascinating history full of intrigue, tragedy and mystery, associated with the man who constructed this absolutely magnificent château. Nicolas Fouquet was born in 1615, into a wealthy family who were already quite established in noble ranks.
By the tender age of 26, when he was a parliamentarian of Paris, he acquired an estate 55 kilometers southeast of Paris. In 1653, at age 38, he had been appointed superintendent of Finance and set about to renovate and enlarge his existing château.
He purchased three adjoining villages to make room for the vast envisioned gardens. To achieve the château of his dreams, he also hired the creme de la creme of artisans in all of France.
These artisans ; Louis le Vau, the architect, Charles Le Bron, painter/decorator, and Andre Le Notre, landscaper, created the jewel of Vaux le Vicomte and later went on to work on Versailles. The gardens are huge, being a mile and half long, with a canal and reflecting pools.
The Chateau itself is set in the center of a moat filled with water and connected by two bridges, one in front and the other in back. Vaux le Vicomte is considered one of the finest examples of a baroque château and heralded in the Louis XIV look.
Last Saturday, the night was still warm, and I had prepared a picnic of a salmon in puff pastry, greek style cucumbers with dill in yogurt, and white peaches and raspberries in peach cognac liqueur, topped with ground crystalized pistachios, rather than eat in the château’s restaurants, which are not noted to be very good.
Champagne to start, then a lovely Sauvignon from my favorite Loire valley vintner Stephane Mesliand. Approaching the entrance of the château is breathtakingly beautiful as the hundreds of flickering candles shone golden in the quickening shadows of dusk that enfolded us.
Walking through the softly glowing rooms, I felt a much greater sense of intimacy and warm sumptuousness than at Versailles. It was exactly 352 years and 14 days ago on saturday August the 17, 1661 that Nicolas Fouquet hosted a grand and extravagant party for the King Louis XIV.
Classical music played throughout, much as is did back during that fateful night that would prove to be the downfall of Nicolas Fouquet. Francois Vatel was busy preparing multiple courses for the banquet and the servants were passing out Champagne to the arriving court, King and guests.
Frivolity and laughter filled the air that night. Everything was absolutely perfect in all aspects, except the surprising look of astonishment on the King’s face and the hidden envy that filled his eyes.
Nicolas Fouquet was said to have reigned higher than the KIng that evening, but by morning, he had become a nobody to the very person he had so desperately wanted to impress and flatter. Upon parting, King Louis was said to have told him that he would hearing from him shortly.
Convinced by Colbert, who was also envious of Nicolas Fouquet, that the superintendent was misappropriating funds to fatten his own pocket, King Louis had the musketeer d’Artagnan to arrest Fouquet only 3 weeks later. His trial lasted over three years, and though Louis XIV wanted him sentenced to death, public opinion swayed the judges to banishment.
First to the Bastille, then on to Pignerol, near Turin where Fouquet spent his remaining years in isolation. Many believe that it was Nicolas Fouquet who was the man in the iron mask, though this seems disproved.
It was ten years after his arrest that his wife was allowed to return to Vaux, but after his death, she put it up for sale in 1705. It was sold again in 1875 to Alfred Sommier and the château is still managed today by his descendants.
As the night wore on, waiting for the fireworks display to begin, I began to understand the heaviness I had felt earlier in walking around. It was like the walls still exuded the grief that certainly engulfed Fouquet’s widow and his children.
Perhaps they return in spirit each August, and at least can take delight that their château still retains all its splendor. It is bittersweet to ponder that amongst such ravishing beauty, and magnificence, there was also tragedy of much dimension; but in that respect, it mirrors in many ways the dichotomies of life.
A delightful sharing of your birthday celebration experience; it provides a vicarious experience for those whom you care to share it with. Sometimes I wonder what part of our lives and life in our times will become the history of the future. While I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in a fair number of major construction projects, none of those can begin to compare in any extent to the old architectural projects from centuries ago that are so rich in the unique architecture of those times and steeped in the romantic history of those ages. The politics, intrigues, mysteries, tragedies, and even romances of life today is really not that different from that of these more ancient times. Mankind is basically the same, even with our technological and social “advances”. These ancient historical buildings and sites, with such rich architure and beauty, provide us with an opportunity to reflect on history and the nature of society, and our own lives. I’m reminded of the saying about: “. . . stopping and smelling the roses . . along the path of life.” You seem to be quite adapt at enjoying life. Thanks for sharing your birthday experience.
David, thank you again for another very insightful comment regarding human nature being the same, and your reflection that history can be learning point applicable to our own lives.
We are history in the making and we are in the process of leaving our own legacies, hopefully demonstrating our own unique efforts to bring greater compassion, understanding, and building bridges toward peace.
I suspect your own passion for construction projects would have been just as sought out back then as today.
I have learned the hard way that I am responsible for finding roses strewn along path, and other pleasures that soften the treacherous path each of us must walk in life.
I now like to celebrate birthdays more than just the day, as the days of our birth deserve more attention and accolades than just blowing out candles on a cake!
I failed to point out that the photo of the pastry was my own birthday creation made and enjoyed the weekend before! It was a dacquoise filled with layers of raspberry, lemon and pistachio creams, all lovingly made by myself.
Very impressive . . . looks delectable. I don’t think that we are actually “slowing down”; it is more that we are learning to take more time to appreciate each day and to smell the fragrant roses and flowers along our path through life. Creating a cake like that for the enjoyment and celebration with others is surely a pleasure.
Thank you Dave… I have been making my own birthday cakes, and for my children, all my adult life. Creating lovely meals and pastries is one of my passions in life.
Loved reading of your birthday celebration at the candlelit chateau … so pleased the weather cooperated. Cherry you have such an art of celebrating moments, days, friends and LIFE! I still remember the special cake with puffs and spun sugar ( took you a long day to make ) made for my birthday once in New Orleans … that is such a fond memory. Loved you then and love you now! It’s still my favorite birthday memory !
Wow Anne! I am so happy that you remembered the pastry I made for your birthday! It was a gateau Saint Honoré, with of course a circle of caramelised cream puffs, and the center filled with a raspberry creme Chiboust. Yes there was golden spun sugar on top too. I remember it being rather messy spinning the sugar, as it got all over the kitchen, but was all made with love for you! It still is an elaborate special pastry for very special occasion that does take time. You deserved the best and still do my dear friend. Thank you for all your support, fellowship, and love all these years! I have been blessed to have been in your world!
Cherry, you obviously have “the gift” or knack for simply enjoying life which is wonderful. As one who has mostly been emersed in work (which I enjoyed emensely), I’m now working on trying to enjoy the perhaps more simpler and richer aspects of life (not easy for a work-a-holic) but I have the next decade or so to develop working on that type of appreciation of life. I have to admit that I feel a little envious of those, like you, who seem to have that “natural knack” for enjoying these aspects of life. Of course, living in Paris and being able to conveniently travel throughout Europe with its rich historical and cultural treasures may provide you with a head start on those like me. In south Florida we have a tremendous amount of tourist attractions; but few historical sites, such as the Dearing Estate and a few other places; but at most, they are perhaps only a century or so old. Key West is a little over three hours away; It has Hemingway’s house, the remnants of older buildings and houses and some earlier buildings; but they are becominga little decrepit and unkempt; it is sort of a smaller version of the French quarters in N.O. We used to takea commercial jet engine powered catamaran to Key West for the weekends; but they rather surprisingly discontinued that service a year or so ago.
My wife, June, who is five years younger than me, and being a typically frugal and practical French-Canadian, says that she plans onworking until she is 65 or 66 y/o. So that somewhat postpones our retirement activities. She says that after seeing my and other acquaintances “unrest” with retirement, she isn’t in a hurry to retire, not yet at least. And then she wants to split our retirement time between Florida and California where her sister lives. So, at 68 years old (closer to 69 y/o) we’re still juggling the aspects of our life. South Florida is nice; but it CERTAINLY IS NOT PARIS or Europe . . . Ha!
As a “mostly retired guy’, I have somewhat slipped into being a “house husband” of sorts (Ha!) I’ve learned to cook . . . basic, relatively simple meals, my “bean stew” which is more of a Mulligan stew; and I’ve even managed to occassionally bake pies (using store bought, “pre-fabbed, pre-rolled” pie crusts . . . so one just puts in the filling and slides it into the oven). Not quite the obvious elaborate pastries and baked goods that you make. But it gets me by. June rarely eats my pies; she is still trying to maintain her 103 pound figure . . . and she is a rather self disciplined person . . . Ha! It is rather humorous that she doesn’t cook anything without a recipe (and she would never dare to deviate from the recipe); and I just sort of throw things together suing whatever we have, which tends to “scare her”; but I think that I’ve only cooked something that turned out to be “bad” once . . . but then, I only cook simple basic foods. In thirty years of marriage, June has NEVER fried anything. I only get fried foods occassionally when we dine out.
We have a relatively low key and simple life style; but we both enjoy it. Life is good. We’re just trying to enjoy it all as we enter the beginning of this “third-third of our lives”. My brother-in-law, who is only six months older than me, sort of fell off the cliff” with his health about two years ago. He has suffered through undiagnosed anxieties, depression, and recently had four stints put in his heart veins, and diagnosed with thyroid cancer (and his thyroid glands weere removed 35 years ago;but there was some remaining tissue. It all just emphasizes our need to enjoy the gift of healty lives to the utmost . . . . our life can change in an instant. Wish you and your husband, and your family the best of life. It sounds like you are truly enjoying life. Best wishes to you all.
David,
First of all thank you for sharing! I find it wonderful that you are in the process of discovering new talents that bring you pleasure. Our work may be one of our passions, but we all have other aspects of our psyches waiting to be explored. One of the things I like about the French, is that their lives are not defined, nor motivated solely by their work, nor money. Neither are they obsessed with accumulation of material goods as Americans. Culture, family, vacations, and pleasures precede in importance. You and your wife are very blessed to have found each other, and have the companionship and love to enrich your life together.
That is a beautiful gift that many are denied and I find much more important than where one resides. True, Florida may limit you geographically and culturally, but the whole state offers so much natural beauty, with some of the most beautiful beaches. You are also close to Martinique and Guadeloupe, which are French and very beautiful to visit.
Paris has a lot of former antillais residents, and they are a fun loving bunch here. Flights from Paris to these islands are less expensive than to the states, even though they are further away, because of their popularity with mainland French.
I bet your wife loves when you cook David! I have never followed recipes either, unless it involves some cakes and pastry doughs which have precise ratios of ingredients and are not forgiving to much variance. Since you like to “construct” projects, I encourage you to try some pastries, as most are a matter of constructing. Most pastry chefs are architects, composing various different creams, pastry bases and etc together depending on their tastes, texture and that is where the creativity come in.
My son is a professional chef(perhaps not surprising having grown up with everyday classical french cuisine from me) who uses his creativity everyday to create new dimensions of tastes, which is essential!
You are definitely on the right track David, now that you have more time to devote to you!
Well, we might fit in well with the Europeans . . . . we’re certainly rather non-materialistic, and money has never been a big motivator for us. To June, a “Catholic French-Canadian”, work is just a “duty”that one is supposed to do as part of life (Ha!) During her years at JPD, Inc. & PPC, Inc., two relatively large/fair sized electrical contracting companies, she was the office manager for perhaps 20 years; but the woman doesn’t have an ounce of business ambitions in her. However, she is a uniquely dedicated and hard working emplyee (a lot more than she should be.) I guess that I was always fortunate in enjoying my work, as difficult as it was at times; but it provided me with such interactions with so many different people on various projects, with many simultantous projects, that it was rather fulfilling to me in lots of ways.
Money was never our prime motivator . . . . I probably should have earned twice what I charged my clients; but I was content to not gouge them, and all of my work was by referral. And it resulted in my being given some relatively large contracts, especially for being an independent consultant. Luck and good fortune do play a significant part in life. It may sound trite; but we live a relatively simple and content life. Our social life extends to our family, and just a few friends.
June is a very neat housekeeper and somewhat lives by her father’s example of getting rid of anything that hasn’t been used in six months to a year. I can be somewhat of a “collector” (not hoarder, as she likes to accuse me of being at times). So, “my domain”, which I ban her from messing with, is my home office and my two car garage that serves as my workship. The rest of the house is hers. Otherwise she would clean it all out.
Years ago, we had only been married a couple of years, I had an 1978 Mercury Cougar; and then I was provided with a company car by my employer. I parked the 1978 Cougar on the front right side of our lot, which was basically out of view from the house. June kept after me to get rid of that car; but I waasn’t inclined to do that. One day as I was driving down our street, going home, I saw a Jer-Dan truck (a flat bed car transport) driving around the opposite corner with my ’98 Cougar on it. June’s first words to me were that “she had told me she wanted to get rid of that car (which was still solely in my name). She told me that a guy who had noticed it prked there for a long time (months) stopped by to enquire about it; and she told him “he could have it”. I asked her how much she got for it; and she told me “nothing”, “I just wanted to get rid of it”. She’s a fiesty little gal at times . . . Ha!
My daughter (step-daughter) and her husband both have masters degrees in International Business. Debbies did work a few years (maybe four) for corporations; but then “retired” to become a full time mother to three children. her husband is a “waiter” and sommelier with the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Naples, FL. (He also fancies himself to somewhat be a “chef” . . . but that is a long work in progress .. . Ha!) Andrew worked as a waiter when he was in college; The kids very much live “an European type of life style” though. (It baffles me somewhat; but their life is their own to live; and they undoubtedly do okay) They have done a terrific job rearing the grandchildren.
Life just turns ot to be quite different in many ways than we anticipated when we were young.
One thing that has always eldued me is how do the Euroeans live their life styles, taking such long vacations and holidays with SUPPOSEDLY not working that much. LOL . . . I must be missing something in all of that. How do they afford their life styles if the cost of living is relatively equivalent to, or more than, in the USA. You need to explain that one to me . . . Ha! And Paris is reportedly one of the most expensive cities in the world, isn’t it?
It is interesting to hear about your life in paris and your family too. I assume that the children in those pictures are your grandchildren; very nice looking kids.