Institut et Musée Voltaire

The Institut et Musée Voltaire is housed in a historic building in Geneva and holds some 25,000 volumes alongside manuscripts, letters, and personal items belonging to the philosopher. The house once served as his residence and was later converted into both a public museum and a research center for Enlightenment scholarship.

The location served as Voltaire's residence from 1755 to 1760, where he wrote and corresponded with leading minds of his era. After his departure, the property was transformed into a museum and research institute in 1954 by Theodore Besterman.

The museum displays portraits and objects from Voltaire's daily life, giving visitors a sense of how this thinker lived and worked during the Enlightenment. Walking through the rooms where he spent time offers insight into his habits and the world he shaped.

The museum is located in central Geneva and is open weekday afternoons, making it easy to visit during an afternoon stroll through the city. The galleries and research materials are straightforward to navigate, allowing visitors to explore at their own pace.

The building holds the status of a Swiss cultural property of national importance and functions simultaneously as a public museum and a specialized research center. This dual role allows visitors to view original manuscripts while also having access to research tools for deeper study.

Location: Genève-Cité

Location: Geneva

Inception: October 2, 1954

Founders: Theodore Besterman

Official opening: October 2, 1954

Part of: list of cultural properties in Geneva

Address: Rue des Délices 25, 1203 Genève

Opening Hours: Monday-fr 14:00-17:00

Website: https://ville-ge.ch/bge/imv

GPS coordinates: 46.20756,6.13356

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:06