Le Vau's 17th century Château of Vaux le Vicomte is the inspiration for a number of Cassandra's designs (Ecurie, Fouquet, Frog and Songe de Vaux) and it is now owned and restored by the Comte and Comtesse de Vogue and their three sons.
During World War II, Arnaud de Vogue was a member of the French Resistance - his code name Colonel Colomb - and in that role he came across the astonishingly effective Virigina Hall, recruited by the SOE (Special Operations Executive in London and then by the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) in the United States.
With striking features as well as a visible disibility, she was unlikely to fade into the French population as a successful spy but her determination, intelligence and grit made her extraordinarily effective in spite of much male opposition from London and on the ground in Paris, Lyon in Vichy France and throughout much of the country. Her recruiting, retaining and information gathering skills played a Vital part in the succcess of the allied invasion and eventual Victory. Her incredible story is recounted in Sonia Purnell's book 'A Women of No Importance: WW2's Most Dangerous Spy' (Virago).
If you have not visited Vaux le Victome, it is definitely: Vaux le Visite!
