Parc des Délices, Historical park in Saint-Jean district, Geneva, Switzerland.
Parc des Délices is a park in Geneva featuring straight pathways lined with chestnut trees, sculpted yew trees, and Austrian black pines arranged around the original mansion. The site also contains a children's playground with swings and a sandbox, along with the Voltaire Institute housed in the main building.
Philosopher Voltaire acquired the property in 1755, renamed it Les Délices, and wrote his famous work Candide while living there. The estate later transformed into a public park, preserving its connection to 18th-century intellectual life in Geneva.
The Voltaire Institute and Museum, established in 1952 within the grounds, holds the world's largest collection of Voltaire manuscripts. Visitors can explore documents and personal objects that reflect the philosopher's work and intellectual legacy.
The park offers several areas to explore, with designated walking paths and open grass spaces throughout. Families with young children will find a dedicated play area equipped with swings, rocking horses, and a sandbox suitable for ages two to six.
Local residents manage communal vegetable gardens within the grounds through the Association Les Jardins des Délices, cultivating vegetables, herbs, and flowers together. This active gardening community shows how the park remains a living space shaped by everyday participation from its neighbors.
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