Voltaire Castle Ferney

In 1759, near Geneva, Voltaire found his home between the Alps and the Jura. He transformed it into a retreat in his own image. The elegant château sits atop a remarkable perspective, surrounded by a bucolic park with a breathtaking view of Mont Blanc. In the philosopher’s chateau, you can immerse yourself in the history and life of a mind that left its mark on the Age of Enlightenment.

Voltaire's retirement

When you see and visit this neo-classical château, you understand perfectly what Voltaire said about it:

“After passing through the homes of kings, I became a king in my own home.

Indeed, after living in the greatest courts of Europe, he stopped off at Ferney, where he spent his last 20 years. On the foundations of the ancient fortified castle, he imagined a superb residence worthy of his prestigious guests. Europe’s finest minds flocked to Ferney to meet the “Innkeeper of Europe”.

The village grew under his benevolent guidance, and he put his ideas and profound humanism into practice. While the village numbered 150 souls on his arrival, it had grown to 1,500 by the time of his death.

A guided tour is essential to capture the essence and history of Voltaire’s work here. The garden outside is little-known, but well worth a visit on a stroll, to read a book, take a moment to yourself… Depending on the season, you may come across some sheep.

Cultivating your garden

After visiting Voltaire’s bedroom, the apartments of Madame Denis, his niece and companion, and the charming salon that welcomed d’Alembert and Condorcet, a stroll is in order.

The main courtyard, with its view of Mont Blanc, is well worth a photo break!

A stroll under the magnolia trees of the Théâtre de Verdure will lead you to the bower that crosses the park. In this inspiring setting, so beloved by Voltaire, you’ll understand the meaning of the famous “il faut cultiver son jardin” (“one must cultivate one’s garden”) from Candide (Voltaire’s philosophical tale published in 1859).

It’s the perfect bucolic spot to take a picnic break on the park’s tables and share your impressions of the visit, or simply meditate and enjoy the present moment.

7hectares

Surface area

6 000letters

written in Ferney

1hour

Length of guided tour

9euros

Visit fee (<18 years: free)

Vol au-dessus du château de Voltaire à Ferney

GOOD TO KNOW

Voltaire's fight against intolerance and injustice

From Ferney, François Marie Arouet worked tirelessly to have the trial of the Calas family reviewed, a symbol of religious intolerance about which he wrote his Traité sur la Tolérance (Treatise on Tolerance).

In Toulouse in 1765, a Protestant merchant, Jean Calas, and with him his entire family, were accused of murdering one of his sons, who wished to convert to Catholicism. Between fanaticism and politics, while the evidence is questionable, Calas is condemned to death, his son Pierre exiled, his daughters locked up in a convent and his wife deprived of the family property. In exile in Geneva, Piere convinces Voltaire of his father’s innocence. Voltaire mobilized his friends to contest the trial and obtain a retrial. The family is finally acquitted and receives a pension from the King’s Council.

This was one of the key battles of this humanist philosopher, who would go on to wage many others, such as the Sirven affair, the defense of the Chevalier de la Barre, executed for sacrilege, the serfs of the Jura…

Voltaire's Château

Elevation : 446m

allée du château, 01210 Ferney-Voltaire