Once, Voltaire sought refuge and inspiration here. This is Les Délices. It is now the Voltaire Museum.
Voltaire, the celebrated French philosopher, lived here from 1755 to 1760. Today, we explore the Institut et Musée Voltaire. It is a museum dedicated to his life and works.
Why did Voltaire choose Geneva? He sought refuge beyond the reach of the French crown. His writings often stirred trouble with French authorities. Although a lapsed Catholic, Geneva’s Protestant laws prevented him from owning land. He could however lease a property.
Jean-Jacques Millet, a Genevan banker, owned this country residence. It was located just outside the city gates on the hillside of Saint Jean. The residence offered a commanding view. Gardens stretched to the banks of the Rhône. The house came fully furnished.
Voltaire and his niece, Madame Marie-Louise Denis, visited the property. They were captivated. A long gallery particularly appealed to them. They imagined staging theatricals there. Despite Geneva’s ban on theatre, the gallery held promise.
Negotiations were complex, but Voltaire drove a hard bargain. Finally, he and his niece moved in on March 1, 1755. They immediately began improving the already superb residence. Voltaire and his paramour renamed the house “Les Délices”.
They planted diverse plants, herbs and fruit trees. Asparagus grew in a greenhouse. Apple and late-fruiting peach trees flourished. Four gardeners, twelve servants and twenty artisans maintained the property.
Voltaire penned a poem in 1758 expressing his affection for Les Délices. He wrote of peace, liberty and freedom. Study sustained him. Reason guided him. He spoke his mind and acted as he pleased.
However, Voltaire departed Les Délices for Ferney in France in 1760. The Tronchin family then occupied the house. Hélène Tronchin spent her childhood here. Later, in the 1830s, Colonel Henri Tronchin used Les Délices as a repository for Bibles. This is ironic considering Voltaire’s skepticism toward Christianity.
In 1929, the city of Geneva purchased the property. The Institut et Musée Voltaire opened in 1952. It was founded by Theodore Besterman.
Inside, discover around 25000 volumes about Voltaire and the 18th century. Admire paintings and prints depicting Voltaire, his relatives and acquaintances. The Voltaire Museum preserves his legacy. It invites us to reflect on his enduring impact on thought and society. Les Délices stands as a testament to Voltaire’s time in Geneva. It celebrates his life and intellectual contributions.