Teachers

Presentation

Built near the Swiss border between 1758 and 1766, Voltaire's chateau was home to one of the most illustrious philosophers of the Age of Enlightenment for 20 years. The castle was listed as a historic monument in 1958.

The education department invites you to discover the different facets of the famous Voltaire , as well as the estate inherited from the 18^th and 19^th centuries, which is both a chateau, a writer's house and a place of remembrance.

All year round, we offer a range of activities to help you discover the estate in a fun and educational way. Our activities are aimed at all age groups, from nursery schools to universities.

There are many ways to discover the estate and how to visit it. They can be adapted to suit the level, itinerary and plans of the group leaders.

Educational activities

Self guided tour

Discover the castle with your class at your own pace. The group is under the responsibility and guidance of the teacher and the accompanying staff.

Mediation tools are available to you:

Visit sheet for teachers (to download).
Film «Voltaire, a contemporary word» based on a free interpretation of the philosopher’s texts (10 minutes).
Tactile model of the castle in the 18^th century to understand the distribution and the external and internal appearance of the house (including decor elements) as Voltaire knew it.
Plan in light relief of the estate in the eighteenth century to perceive its extent, organization and proximity with the village of Ferney and Geneva.
Digital kiosks in each of the rooms with texts in English.
Rates

Full price : 40€ for one class (35 students maximum).

Visiteurs utilisant les tables numériques dans le grand salon
© Nicolas Gascard / OTI PDGMJ

Guided Tour

Philosopher, literary and theatrical man but also entrepreneur, discover the life and work of Voltaire in his home in Ferney where he spent the last twenty years of his life.

In addition to the general guided tour, additional topics may be possible:

At the time of Voltaire : Students discover the different facets of the 18^th century through a game of comparison with the current era that was complexer according to
the cycles. They are also led to identify the different rooms and the functions they performed at the time of the philosopher.
Voltaire, a man of theatre : Voltaire, born François Marie Arouet, is a
character we all know, but we often forget most of his work : Today, little is remembered of the playwright, who was considered one of the greatest in his time. Students are invited to discover this facet of Voltaire, which is little studied in school programs.
Voltaire and the wheels of his time : Discover this entrepreneur Voltaire thanks to our mediatrice and discover the different manufactures related to Voltaire.
Voltaire and women : Through the great female figures who marked the life of the philosopher, discover the destiny of exceptional women and their footprints in history.

Rates :

Full price : 90 euros for one class (35 students maximum)

Visite commentée avec du public dans le vestibule du château de Voltaire — Visite commentée dans le vestibule du château de Voltaire
© Patrick Tourneboeuf - Tendance Floue / Centre des monuments nationaux

Heritage workshops

Heritage workshops combine thematic visits and artistic practice. They are offered to students aged 8-12.

The themes may include:

Welcome to the Innkeeper of Europe : evocation of food and art of the table from the seventeenth to nineteenth century then culinary workshop.
The soap of Voltaire : evocation of hygiene and beauty canons between the Middle Ages and the nineteenth century then creation of a natural soap.

Rates

Full price : 130 euros for a class (35 students maximum)