"All the wonders of the corrected hand man of nature, all the fun and all the luxury, combined with such a way as to affect both the mind and the senses - all Fouquet gave his king in this magical orphanage, the likes of which could not boast one of the the then kings of Europe ... "
A. Dumas. Ten years later

ALL THE WORLD GOLD |
Nicolas Fouquet was a remarkable man of his time. Um, well-educated and unprecedented courage helped him, a young financier, early in his career to easily solve the most hopeless and complex financial problems of the state. His rise was swift. In the twenty-six years he was able to buy the estate Vaux-le-Vicomte near Fontainebleau, in the thirty-eight became finance minister of France. Almost twenty years Fouquet actually rules France. His power was enormous. But people attracted to him not only power but also great
charm of personality, intelligence, the living style of communication, magnanimity and generosity.
In the constellation of talent surrounding Fouquet, was composed of the best makers of his time: his closest friends were immortal Moliere and unsurpassed fabulist La Fontaine.
To say that the superintendent lived in a big way - so do not say anything ...
Nicolas Fouquet, the wealth and luxury eclipsed the king. He loved beauty, subtly felt perfect shapes and lines, was able to tastefully live. Butler had served as a legendary master of the art meal Francois Vatel. Every day on the table Fouquet appeared unusual dishes using recipes Vatel, delicious meals on the all-powerful minister of legends. In 1656 Nicolas Fouquet began to build the palace in the estate equal to that at the time there was no one king of Europe.

MAGICAL PLACE |
Construction lasted five years. In 1661 on the site of three demolished villages, cut down forests and changed the channel of the river grew a beautiful castle, surrounded by canals, laced with the orchestra bosquet of clipped yew trees, fountains, waterfalls, ponds, statues, shady park. The great master of landscape art of André Le Nôtre created unprecedented at the time the park. The basis of invented composition sostavilipryamaya as an arrow main alley, extending to 1200 meters from the castle before the statue of Hercules, visually completing the park, and the Grand Canal that runs across the main axis, blocking the path.
He had to circle round slowly, admiring in passing the change of various
landscapes, gradually opening up the eye paintings - flower stalls hard -
On "lacy" drawings, sculptures, fountains, water pit, and, finally, the green carpet in front of a gilded statue of Hercules. It opened
the most impressive panoramic view of the space created by Le Nôtre. It occurred
at a time when the viewer, it would seem, had already seen everything: suddenly disappeared and the canals, and the grotto and cascade - remained only a grand carpet stalls with walls of trees on either side, and perspective, nothing is lost, returned to the building, where,
as the focus, met all the lines of the park. The castle is traditionally built on an artificial island surrounded by a moat.
Prominent architect Louis Helm, who created the Louvre and, later, Versailles, designed the
for Fouquet majestic yet elegant palace, striking harmony of forms, with -
dimension and precision of proportions. Wide stairs kurdonera conducted in solemn marble lobby and the subsequent Grand Salon - high two tiers of windows oval hall, the windows of which revealed the magic term, large orchestra. Refined taste never changed the creators of the castle. The elegant interiors struck rich plastics and colors, harmony of architectural and decorative solutions. The walls were decorated with pictures of a huge collection Fouquet, compiled them with impeccable taste.
The most striking impression produced Fouquet front bedroom, decorated with tapestries of the famous masters of Luke de Leiden. Evening sun, filled the room seemed to be permeated everything here: Floating in a blood-red drapery beds, flashed in gold thread tapestry, gleaming in the dim gold luxury mirrors. With a low ceiling on earthly affairs calmly watched the gods - Day and Night.
Dawn and Twilight of the gods ...

MIRACLES IN THE CASTLE |
Meanwhile, good luck began to slip away from the hands of Fouquet. Friends warned him about the growing discontent with the king and the machinations of envious ... Knowing about libel meticulous and vindictive Colbert, desperately hoping to regain the favor of Louis, Fouquet puts everything on the map gives in August 1661 a grand reception in honor of the king to six thousand visitors. The united efforts of the best artists of his time, spending a hundred and twenty thousand livres, he organizes the festival, unequaled to this day does not know history.
"All in the castle was raised in favor of the King: Music, fireworks, the moon and water cannons" --
wrote enthusiastically Lafontaine. Manor Fouquet not only luxurious, it is unique in its kind. No one, including the king, there are no parks. Torelli, the great master of the spectacular effects involved fireworks. Gondola gliding across the pond. In the woods, hiding musicians playing violins, flutes and oboe. Lights not count ...
The night was truly unforgettable. After strolling through the wonderful gardens of the king and his entourage returned to the palace, where they waited for an excellent dinner, hosted by the inimitable Guide.
After lunch, Moliere's company was invited to this unprecedented evening, playing the play "tiresome", created specifically to flatter Louis, lover
Mademoiselle de La Valliere. The plot is simple: a certain Marquis rushes to her beauty, but he always prevent annoying acquaintances. And! Light, charmingly frivolous, a little bit empty afterpiece - what you need to spend an excellent evening. By order of Fouquet in two weeks, the play was conceived by Moliere, rehearse and presented on stage. King is particularly fond of music and dance, and therefore inserted between the actions of ballets, music for which Lully wrote the maestro himself. Everything sparkles with joy, carelessness and happiness.
King having fun ...
After the dancing king and his entourage proceeded to the area in front of a pond. Suddenly, the palace was illuminated by many torches attached to the ledges, and the building seemed to have enveloped flame. His reflection shone in the water "mirror". At the same time at the end of the park lights lit the fountain from which the fireworks and escaped with the deafening sounds and dazzling brilliance climbed into the sky. "When the king went into the carriage to return to the castle, - recalled the Marquis Scudéry - a myriad
lights around the dome of the palace turned into a shining dome, lit up the sky!

STAR AND DEATH NIKOLA FU KE |
Madness in the castle were in vain. One hundred and twenty tables, thirty huts, one hundred and fifty dozen dishes, lots of servants in the new livery, thousands of candles in kondelyabrah to illuminate parks, gardens, Le Nôtre broken, music, comedy, fireworks have led to the delight of the guests and leave a memory, which is not overshadowed even holidays Versailles. But could not save the one who arranged it all.