Hidden within the grand Vaux-le-Vicomte estate lies the Musée des Équipages. This museum isn’t just a collection of carriages. It’s a journey through time, a portal back to the era of horse-drawn elegance. The Musée des Équipages is housed in the estate’s former stables and outbuildings. This setting adds another layer of authenticity to the experience. Imagine these grand carriages once housed here, ready to transport their aristocratic owners.
The Musée des Équipages showcases a remarkable array of horse-drawn vehicles from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. From ornate carriages fit for royalty to simpler vehicles designed for everyday use, the museum paints a vivid picture of transportation before the automobile. The collection includes everything from elegant Berlines and Coureuses to more unusual vehicles like the Briska, a Russian carriage that could transform into a sleeping berth. There’s even a rare surviving example of a chaise à mules, a type of litter used for city travel. You can almost see the valets hurrying along the cobblestone streets, carrying their noble passengers in this luxurious enclosed chair.
One particularly interesting exhibit features a fardier, a specialized vehicle used for moving trees and orange tree crates around the Vaux-le-Vicomte gardens. The rear crossbar of the fardier was removable. This ingenious design allowed gardeners to position it on either side of a tree, then use a winch to lift the tree or crate. This museum showcases the ingenuity of the era.
The museum also delves into the specific uses of these carriages. Many of the grander carriages were adapted for long journeys, becoming “dormeuses” equipped with leather bellows for weather protection. One such dormeuse on display belonged to General Le Grand de Mercey and even boasts a special compartment for his saber. We also learn about the chaise de poste, a fast carriage developed in the 17th century. Suspended on springs and leather straps, with a single door at the front, it provided a relatively swift mode of travel.
Beyond carriages, the Musée des Équipages offers glimpses into related crafts. Exhibits on saddlery and blacksmithing reveal the essential skills that kept these carriages rolling. The displays of harnesses, bits, and other equipment are fascinating. They remind us of the intricate network of trades and craftspeople that supported this elegant mode of transport. The Musée des Équipages at Vaux-le-Vicomte is more than just a collection of carriages. It’s a tribute to a bygone era of craftsmanship, ingenuity, and aristocratic splendor. It offers a fascinating journey back in time, allowing us to experience the world before the roar of the engine replaced the clip-clop of horses’ hooves.