The history of the castle
Built in the 18th century between 1758 and 1766 on the ruins of a former 12th century fortified castle, the Château de Ferney was wanted by Voltaire to be comfortable and practical. The first main building was completed in 1762, but two wings were added in 1765 to accommodate the thinker's numerous visitors. On this occasion, the medieval walls and the defensive towers of the original medieval castle were completely destroyed. The chateau had been purchased in the name of Voltaire's niece, Madame Denis. When the philosopher died, she sold the castle to the Marquis de Villette. If he dismembered the estate, he did however endeavor to preserve the memory of the great man in the castle. After a few changes of ownership during the 19th century, the estate was bought by Claude-Marie David-Missilier, who worked hard for the conservation and consolidation of the château, its land and its movable collections. The sculptor Emile Lambert, his son-in-law, inherited the property in 1878 and decorated his park with several of his works. His descendants ceded the castle, its estate and its outbuildings to the State in 1999.
Visit the castle of Voltaire
The castle of Voltaire of course gives to see the place where the thinker lived for 20 years. But it also houses a rich collection of works, works of art and furniture that belonged to the philosopher or to his relatives: old copies of the Cycles of Venus, Louis XV armchairs, portraits and a bust. by Voltaire, or the original, restored bed of the Enlightenment philosopher. The castle nestles in the heart of a landscaped park of 7 hectares: the visit of the park is designed to make you see the successive developments it has undergone. Between the Alps and the Jura, it offers sublime views of the mountains. The park also includes a vegetable garden, an orchard, a vineyard, a beautiful alley of arbors and a beautiful French garden with pond. In the main courtyard, an old barn houses a theater where many performances were held.
Useful information
Open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Château de Voltaire can be visited at the price of 8 euros full price, and free for children under 25. Combined tickets are available with the Fort l´écluse site. In a period of the global covid-19 pandemic, measures are put in place by the site: they include a limited number of visitors, an adapted visit circuit with direction of movement, the obligation to wear a mask, the provision of hydroalcoholic gel. The free visit is made with a support document provided at the reception of the castle and downloadable online. It lasts 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on your pace. Guided tours are also offered at no extra charge, lasting one hour. Finally, the Château de Voltaire in Ferney organizes thematic conference tours lasting from 1h30 to 2h00, as well as workshops, games and fun visits to do with the family.
