Castle of Cirey

The castle of Cirey is located on the commune Cirey-on-Blaise, in Haute-Marne. The castle of Cirey owes its fame with famous the Voltaire which remained there of 1734 with 1749, invited by Gabrielle Emilie de Breteuil, Marquise of Châtelet, other shining spirit of the XVIIIème century.

The castle was built in 1643 by the marquis Louis Gilles of Châtelet to the site of an old castle shaved in 1633.

At the time of its passage, Voltaire made raise an additional wing decorated with a splendid external door carved on drawing carried out by the writer. Great festivals were organized with sumptuous meals being able to count to hundred different dishes. The house Louis XIII was to resemble " small a Versailles " Voltaire arranged a small theater, place exceptional and unique in France at the present time: in this small room under the roofs, the guests were to play the parts which he had written. Work of restoration made it possible to give again all its seal to him: benches, curtain of scene in breadths of bent fabrics, painted in trompe-l'oeil with the beautiful blue color.

" Mrs. of Chatelet became architect and garden. She makes put windows where I had put carry. It exchanges staircases in chimneys and chimneys in staircases. It makes plant limes where I had to propose elms; and if I had planted a kitchen garden, it would have made a floor. Moreover it makes the work of the fairies in this houses. It changes rags into tapestries; it finds the secrecy to furnish Cirey with rien." Voltaire, Letter with the countess of Neuville, November 1734.

The vault was built in 1855 and was decorated for the Damas family by Menissier of painting representing the life with Saint Charles Borromé.

The castle of Cirey is a private residence today. The owners of the castle open this historical castle with the general public for the visit.

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