Ferney-Voltaire Castle
Ferney-Voltaire Castle, Neoclassical castle in Ferney-Voltaire, France
The three-story castle features a Mansard roof and architectural elements designed by Jean-Michel Billon and Léonard Racle in the 1760s.
Voltaire acquired the estate in 1759 from the Budé family, transforming a small hamlet of 200 inhabitants into a center of European intellectual life.
The castle received the distinction of Maisons des Illustres in 2012, recognizing its role as a residence where Voltaire wrote over 13,000 letters.
The Centre des monuments nationaux operates the castle daily from 10:00 to 18:00, offering visitors access to rooms and exhibits about the Enlightenment period.
During his residence, Voltaire established local industries including watchmaking and pottery, fundamentally changing the economic structure of Ferney-Voltaire.
Location: Ferney-Voltaire
Inception: 1762
Architects: Jean-Michel Billon, Léonard Racle
Architectural style: Neoclassical architecture
Floors above the ground: 3
Accessibility: Wheelchair inaccessible
Operator: Centre des monuments nationaux
Address: 1 allée du Château
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 10:00-18:00
Website: https://chateau-ferney-voltaire.fr
GPS coordinates: 46.25740,6.10360
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:38
France preserves the homes of its greatest writers, transformed today into literary museums. From Balzac's house in Paris, where the author of 'The Human Comedy' wrote his novels while drinking countless coffees, to Nohant Castle in Berry where George Sand met Chopin and Flaubert, these places tell the story of French literary creation. You can also visit Montaigne's tower in Périgord, where the philosopher wrote his Essays surrounded by his library, or the Château Monte-Cristo built by Alexandre Dumas after the success of his adventure novels. These houses offer direct access to the worlds of the authors who lived there. The priory of Saint-Cosme near Tours preserves the memory of Ronsard, a Renaissance poet, while the house of Aunt Léonie in Illiers-Combray takes visitors back to Marcel Proust’s childhood. In Normandy, Maurice Leblanc’s residence in Étretat celebrates Arsène Lupin’s universe, and in the Basque Country, the Arnaga villa showcases Edmond Rostand’s regional architecture, author of 'Cyrano de Bergerac.' Each visit helps understand how these writers lived, worked, and drew inspiration from their daily environments.
Chateau de Tournay
3.5 km
Maison, rue de Genève
850 m
Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption de Ferney-Voltaire
351 m
Ferney-Voltaire fountain
593 m
Maison de Loes
592 m
Cintia Valeria Ramos
1.6 km
Église de l'Assomption de Prévessin-Moëns
1.8 km
Golf de la Manchette
3.5 km
Église Saint-Brice d'Ornex
1.7 km
Chapelle de la Persécution
2.2 km
Saint-Hippolyte church
3.2 km
Saint-Clément church of Collex-Bossy
2 km
L'Innocence
70 m
La Vigne
27 m
Maison Fusier
449 m
Mategnin
2.6 km
War memorial of Prévessin-Moëns
1.8 km
Fontaine couverte du Grand-Saconnex
2.9 km
Serres de Rothschild
3.6 km
Chapelle du château de Ferney-Voltaire
74 m
Église Réformée de Ferney-Voltaire
303 m
Mairie d'Ornex
2.3 km
Town hall of Ferney-Voltaire
381 m
War memorial of Ornex
1.7 km
War memorial of Ferney-Voltaire
396 m
Château de Prévessin-Moëns
2.3 km
Mairie de Prévessin-Moëns
1.8 km
Castle and Farm
1.8 kmReviews
Visited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
Discover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes