Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Voltaire

A fortified site on an island in the Loire may have been existed here already in early times, as, where the bridge is now, once was an important ford to cross the river. In 1218 a keep was erected. End of the 14th century a donjon, flanked by four towers got erected and - to provide an agreeable accomodation for the noble owners - a "Petit Château" was added to he castle. The chateau was renovated and extended a couple of times and hosted some well known visitors. One of them was Voltaire, who lived here in 1716 and again in 1719 Voltaire lived here, when he had been exiled from Paris

A fortified site on an island in the Loire may have been existed here already in early times, as, where the bridge is now, once was an important ford to cross the river. In 1218 a keep was erected. End of the 14th century a donjon, flanked by four towers got erected and - to provide an agreeable accomodation for the noble owners - a "Petit Château" was added to he castle. The chateau was renovated and extended a couple of times and hosted some well known visitors. One of them was Voltaire, who lived here in 1716 and again in 1719 Voltaire lived here, when he had been exiled from Paris

Count Marc-Pierre d’Argenson lived here, after he was dismissed by Louis XV and exiled from Paris in 1757. He was a friend of Voltaire and strong supporter of the "Encyclopédistes". Diderot and d’Alembert dedicated the first volume of the "Encyclopédie" to him. Only about 10kms east of Les Ormes philosopher and mathematician René Descartes ("Cogito ergo sum") was born in 1596. La Haye en Touraine was the name of the town at that time. Meanwhile it is renamed to Descartes.

Airvault was known already to the Romans, who named the area "Aurea Vallis" ("Golden Valley"). First time I accidently entered the small town via a "detour" - and was very surprised not only by the church. Meanwhile I know, that Airvault offers a great "chambres d'hote" and the recommendable restaurant "Cygne" next door. Very friendly ladies run the tourist office and guide the tourists. I even got key to the "Airvault Underground", where a medieval fountain and canal could be explored. Merci beaucoup. The Voltaire is a good place to stay. www.thevoltaire.com/ It is named after François-Marie Arouet. I learned, that his parents owned property here and young François-Marie may have spent summer holidays in or around Airvault. When he choose a pen name - he may have inverted the syllables of Airvault and so since 1718 François-Marie Arouet was known under the name Voltaire.