Maison des Illustres

Voltaire's chateau in Ferney was one of the first residences to be awarded the "Maisons des Illustres" label on 13 September 2011. 

These labelled houses are places whose vocation is to preserve and transmit the memory of women and men who have distinguished themselves in the political, social and cultural history of France.

The label is awarded by the Ministry of Culture for a renewable period of 5 years. It represents official recognition of the heritage interest of the House.

From the house to the estate, from the castle to the apartment and from the museum to the workshop, the Club of the Illustrious constitute an original heritage ensemble whose cultural value the Ministry of Culture intends to have recognised.

The houses of the illustrious celebrate personalities who have distinguished themselves in the worlds of plastic and visual arts, entertainment and musical creation.

They honour those whose work forms part of the history of thought and literature or has promoted the development of science and industry.

Find out more about Le Club des Illustres

The "Maisons des Illustres" label guarantees a rich annual cultural programme.

Symbol of the Enlightenment, inventor of the philosophical tale, poet, historian, François Marie Arouet, known as Voltaire (1694-1778), marked the 18th century and remains a major figure in French collective memory. 

His house is the witness of his ideas and fights that he led then in Ferney, in his castle which he completely rebuilt from 1758, at the edge of the Swiss border. He organizes the park, not hesitating to work the land with his own hands. 

In turn urbanist, entrepreneur and patron, he transformed the town of Ferney according to the principles set out in Candide (1759) and summarized in the famous maxim: "We must cultivate our garden." There he led an intense social and literary life, wrote some six thousand letters, the Philosophical Dictionary, the Treatise on Tolerance, tragedies, gave theatrical performances. 

Personalities from all over Europe of the Enlightenment were received at the chateau. 

It is in view of this local and national history, very rich and prolific from the presence of Voltaire at Ferney, that the castle seeks to shine again and widely.. A major programme of cultural events is organised throughout the year by the Centre des monuments nationaux, in partnership with the town of Ferney-Voltaire (lecture programme), Pays de Gex Agglo and Fort l'Écluse (Festival Jazz in Fort l'Ecluse chez Voltaire), as well as numerous collaborations with local associations (Soloist Academy, CELLOarte, BD Pays de Gex).

A book published by Éditions du patrimoine (a publishing house of the Centre des monuments nationaux) lists all the Maisons des Illustres.

Discover the Guide des Maisons des Illustres.