Château de Voltaire

Voltaire bought this castle, in the little village of Ferney, in 1758. He started there some work to improve the building. Thanks to the presence of the philosopher, who invested his time and his money in the village, from the moment he arrived there until 1778 when he died, the population grew from forty inhabitants to a thousand. Voltaire liked to think of himself as the «innkeeper of Europe», hosting the elites of the continent, turning Ferney into an essential place for this class, coming from the whole Europe.

Voltaire spent the last twenty years of his life in the castle, and wrote there his Treaty on the tolerance, his Philosophical Dictionnary and many other plays which were played in the barn. In the early 20th century, an orangery was created and hosts now cultural events. The art pieces collection and the belongings of Voltaire are displayed in a special decor, preserving the atmosphere of the presence of the great philosopher. The castle was listed as a French historical monument in 1958 and is open to public from April to November. The arbour, in the park, offers a walk on the steps of Voltaire and a great view on the Mont Blanc mountain.