Chateau Voltaire

Chateau Voltaire, home of one of France's best-loved writers and philosophers :
Ferney-Voltaire, FR

In 1758, the French writer and philosopher François-Marie Arouet, aka: Voltaire, moved to the village of Fernex, France, just over the border from Geneva. Voltaire had been banished from Paris by Louis XV for his social reform and anti-Catholic views. He moved to Geneva, Switzerland, but the laws prohibiting theatre performances eventually forced him to decamp across the border into neighboring France and the village of Fernex. Voltaire was so annoyed by the proliferation of villages and towns in the surrounding area ending in "x"(Ornex, Massonex, Gex, etc.), he changed the spelling of Fernex to Ferney (both are pronounced fair-nay.)

Voltaire bought a chateau that included a church on the grounds. Disdainful of religion, he began to disassemble the church until a priest from a neighboring village passed by on the road through Voltaire's property and saw this desecration. The priest reported it to the Bishop of Savoy, who compelled Voltaire to rebuild the church. Voltaire grudingly complied, building a crypt for himself* and posting a sign over the door that reads:

DEO EREXIT 

VOLTAIRE**

 Deo Erexit VOLTAIRE : Ferney-Voltaire, FR

After Voltaire's death and the French Revolution, the town was renamed in his honor. Sadly, Voltaire's chateau and his gardens and grounds are in disrepair. As I walked around the premises, I couldn't help but think of another esteemed estate that fell into disrepair, but was saved by a group of insightful women. Just as Washington's Mount Vernon was restored and today is preserved and maintained by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, Voltaire's chateau needs a similar association. Granted, while estates like this are a dime a dozen in France, it seems a shame that the home of one of France's foremost thinkers lacks a benefactor.

* Voltaire was obsessed with the fear that he would be forgotten in death and buried in a pauper's grave, so he built himself a tomb in this tiny church. He need not have worried, however, as he is buried in Paris in the Pantheon--the final resting place of France's national heroes.
** Latin: Erected to God by VOLTAIRE.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 7/10

The Pantheon

The Pantheon : Paris, FR

One of the last sites we visited before leaving Paris was the Pantheon. Located in the Latin Quarter, the Pantheon is France's final resting place of its literary, political, artistic, scientific, and religious heroes. Voltaire, Rosseau, Victor Hugo, and Marie Curie are just a few of the prominent French citizens buried in the crypt of this non-denominational church.

To see a few more pictures of the Pantheon from my visit last August and our visit this January, go to my Picasa Web Album. This wraps up our trip to Paris. We had a really good time and saw a lot of great art, monuments, and landmarks. But, as is always the case with this beautiful city, there is more yet to see. I can guarantee I'll be going to Paris again!

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 1/10

Ferney-Voltaire

The French poet and philosopher Voltaire stands watch over the village of Ferney : Ferney-Voltaire, FR

I'm currently living in the French village of Ferney-Voltaire. The actual village itself has a population of less 10,000 and covers less than 5.5 square miles, but the area surrounding it supports over 100,000 residents. A few of the folks who live in Ferney are British and American expats who are working for CERN and various United Nations organizations, as well as the U.S. and British Permanent Missions to the U.N.

In the 18th century, the French philosopher Voltaire lived in Ferney. According to Wikipedia, he left neighboring, Calvinist hotbed Geneva for the border town of Ferney because Geneva had no theaters. Voltaire lived in Ferney for 20 years before returning to Paris, where he subsequently died and was later buried with honor in the Pantheon. A statue in the center of the village of Ferney-Voltaire commemorates this famous Frenchman and his 20-years residence in this part of France.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 1/10.