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Tours of the Chateau

Tour Hours, Map and Places Nearby

Voltaire

Emilie du Chatelet

A Love Story
Voltaire and Emilie

Picture Gallery

Voltaire's Writing

Emilie's Writing

The Little Theater at Cirey

Restoration of the Chateau

Poetry Tribute to Voltaire

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The Chateau Cirey as planned, from the central part of a triptych

Residence of Voltaire and Emilie du Chatelet from 1734 to 1749. Guided Tours:  14:30 to 19:00 - every day July 1 to September 1 and Sunday and holidays in May, June and September Tour start times: 14:50 - 16:00 - 17:10 - 18:10 Adults: 7,5 Euros Children: 10 to 17 years 4,5 Euros (free under age 10) Groups:  tours by reservation for a minimum of 10 people, every day, from April 1 to October 31 (morning and afternoon) Phone/Fax: 03.25.55.43.04 Email: Chateau de Cirey Cirey-sur-Blaise Haute-Marne, France Voltaire and Emilie du Chatelet lived together for 15 years in this elegant chateau in the Haute-Marne district of France. The chateau was in ruins in 1734. Voltaire renovated the building and added the entire wing that extends across the center of the picture. It was here that the couple collected a library of 21,000 books, with a goal of learning great truths and writing about their findings. Famous scientists came to visit them, and all of Paris wanted to know what was happening at Cirey. Visitors Are Welcome You are invited to return to the 1730's and tour this lovely chateau. Voltaire's Famous Door You are greeted in the courtyard. The tour begins at Voltaire's famous door (center of top picture). The bas-relief carvings of the portico were designed by Voltaire and represent the arts and sciences.

The Gallery Voltaire's large work area is behind the famous doors. Here he had costly scientific apparatus and did many scientific experiments that comprise two volumes of his work. Multiple Projects Voltaire always worked on several projects at the same time. For five years he had a great interest in the sciences and scientific experiments; then he returned to his writing. Voltaire wrote epigrams (witty statements), poetry, essays, plays, books on history, and corresponded with over 1700 people during his lifetime. Remember the large library? Voltaire and Emilie spent a great deal of time reading and discussing the work of past writers in a search for "the great Truths." They also reviewed and commented on each other's work. Voltaire wrote in the margins of books and inserted slips of paper between pages so he could find important passages when they were needed for reference. Emilie had her own work area, laboratory, and library and the couple sent notes to each other during the day. It is likely that some of Voltaire's messages contained poetry. After all, wouldn't France's greatest living poet send love poetry to his mistress? Voltaire's Bedroom Voltaire's bedroom was next to the larger room where he worked. Today this room is used as a parlor and is decorated with 18th century furniture and tapestries. Madame de Graffigny, a visitor at the chateau, tells us that this room had charming pictures, mirrors, a beautiful service of silver, and costly and rare objects. Emilie's Bedroom Emilie's bedroom was restored in 2002 based on a description of the room written by a visitor to the chateau in 1738. Library and Chapel Down the hall is the library and the chapel which are part of the original building. The Kitchen The kitchen had a new invention -- Voltaire installed a silent butler when he renovated the building, and food was sent warm to the dining room on the floor above. The Dining Room The dining room looks much as it did when Voltaire and Emilie entertained visitors to the chateau. The evening meal began at 9:00 and usually lasted for several hours. They discussed poetry, science, art, the theater, and the latest news from Paris. A visitor tells us that Emilie was skilled in the agreeable arts, and that Voltaire was the most amusing man alive. The Little Theater The highlight of the tour is the Little Theater in the attic. Voltaire was well known as a writer for the theater. Several plays that he wrote at Cirey were first presented in this Little Theater before they were staged in Paris. Visitors Are Welcome to the Chateau Cirey Guided Tours:  14:30 to 19:00 - every day July 1 to September 1 and Sunday and holidays in May, June and September Tour start times: 14:50 - 16:00 - 17:10 - 18:10 Adults: 7,5 Euros Children: 10 to 17 years 4,5 Euros (free under age 10) Groups:  tours by reservation for a minimum of 10 people, every day, from April 1 to October 31 (morning and afternoon) Phone/Fax: 03.25.55.43.04 Email: Other Interesting Places Nearby Click here for a map and other interesting places to see nearby.