Voltaire's hornbeam avenue

Vue sur la charmille de Voltaire à l'automne

Take a stroll under the Voltaire's hornbeam avenue in any season, and you might just find a little inspiration, but above all, let yourself be charmed !

For Voltaire, the construction of the castle, which dominates the site, was inseparable from the development of his park. It was therefore laid out at the same time, helping to set the scene. Voltaire loved his gardens, which he considered to be the most beautiful ornament of the estate.

In order to provide his guests with the food they needed, Voltaire had a vineyard planted, a carp field maintained and a vegetable garden and orchard cultivated.

At the rear of the chateau, a private area, a regular formal garden was laid out, with a pond and hornbeam avenue under which Voltaire liked to find inspiration. His "hornbeam street" originally extended as far as the present-day Orangerie. He designed it and had it planted so that the branches joined together to form a plant tunnel.

The hornbeam is tended all year round and displays beautiful colours in every season.

Voltaire applied his most famous maxim, written in his philosophical tale Candide in 1759, to his garden : "we must cultivate our garden"!