Ferney-Voltaire
Ferney-Voltaire, a French town on the Swiss border, was fundamentally shaped by the famous Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire. Before Voltaire's arrival in 1758, Ferney was a tiny, swampy village. Seeking freedom from the authorities in both France and Geneva, Voltaire bought the local estate and spent two decades transforming the town into a thriving community. He drained the swamps, built over a hundred new homes, a school, and a hospital. He also started new industries like watchmaking and pottery, which grew the population from 200 to over 1,200. In his honor, the town was officially renamed Ferney-Voltaire during the French Revolution. The heart of his project was his home, the (Château de Voltaire). This mansion became a crucial meeting point for Europe's top thinkers. From his study, Voltaire wrote many of his most famous works and campaigned against injustice.
Today, Ferney-Voltaire is a bustling international town. The restored château is now a museum where visitors can see the philosopher's home, library, and grounds, preserving the powerful legacy of the man who built a town to match his ideals.