Simon de la Vallée

Born in Paris, he was the son of Marin de la Vallée (1576–1655), an architect associated with the Paris Hôtel de Ville and the Luxembourg Palace. After studying under Salomon de Brosse (1571–1626), he spent the next eight years on several study trips, travelling in particular to Italy, Syria, Jerusalem and Persia. After returning to Paris in 1633, he was charged by Prince Frederick Henry of Orange to undertake work on the Honselaarsdijk Palace in the Netherlands. In 1637, he was invited to Stockholm by Field Marshal Åke Tott (1598-1640) on behalf of Queen Christina of Sweden where he first worked on Ekolsund Castle. In 1639, he was given the title of Royal Architect. His commissions included the castles of Tidö and Hässelby as well as several palaces in Stockholm. He designed the exquisite Riddarhuset but was killed by the nobleman Erik Oxenstierna (1624-1656), a week after construction had begun. The building was completed by his son Jean de la Vallée whom he had trained as an architect. Other buildings designed by Simon de la Vallée include Axel Oxenstierna Palace, inspired by the Renaissance palaces of Raphael, and the octagonal Hedvig Eleonora Church, both in Stockholm.

Simon de la Vallée was married at least four times, with: • Margarethe de Villars (died 1635) with whom he had two sons, Jean (born 1624) and Henri (born 1634); • Marie le Cockaine (marriage dissolved) • Marie le Tuilliers (marriage dissolved) • Pauline de Courlas, one of Queen Christina's ladies in waiting, with whom he had a son, Gustaf de la Vallée (born 1641).