Want to turn a new page in your escapades? La Route des Maisons d'Écrivains en Île-de-France opens up the intimate chapters of the greatest authors. No fiction here. Each home reveals the real lives, inspirations and sometimes secrets of the writers who have shaped French literature.
Pushing open the door of one of these houses means moving from the cover to the heart of the work. Transformed into museums, they reveal authentic interiors as well as remarkable buildings, erected between the 17th and 20th centuries. Around Paris, and especially in the Yvelines region (78), these sites are also the architectural jewels of charming villages, nestled in lush, unspoilt landscapes.
This tour brings together thirteen residences that once belonged to fourteen writers, divided between Ile-de-France and Normandy: six on the Ile-de-France side, seven on the Normandy side. In the words of French journalist Alain Decaux: "Writers' houses are islands in time. Forever imbued with the genius of their hosts, these residences of the mind fascinate the visitor."
The Château de Monte-Cristo, Alexandre Dumas' hidden and unusual home
Discover the Château de Monte-Cristo, the residence imagined by the writer Alexandre Dumas. Set in an English garden on the Saint-Germain-en-Laye side of the Yvelines region, this exuberantly styled 19th-century château and its small Château d'If (Yew Castle) are waiting to be discovered. We take you on a tour of this hidden heritage, listed as a historic monument. [Read more]
The Elsa Triolet-Aragon House, museum and residence of the writer couple in the heart of the Yvelines
In the heart of the Yvelines, discover the green setting that hosted the love story of the two writers Louis Aragon and Elsa Triolet, in an old water mill. Enjoy a fascinating guided tour and the quietness of the six-hectare park, conducive to daydreaming and creation. [Read more]
The Maison Zola, the Dreyfus Museum in Médan, Yvelines
In the heart of the Yvelines region, the Musée Dreyfus, in the grounds of the Maison d'Émile Zola, stands as a place steeped in literary and judicial history. Located in Médan, just an hour's drive from Paris, this historic house and museum is a must-see for anyone interested in the life and work of Émile Zola, as well as the Dreyfus Affair, two major elements of late 19th-century French culture. [Read more]
Datcha Tourguéniev: visit the Russian writer's home and museum in Bougival (78)
Ivan Tourguéniev's Datcha, a house-museum nestled in the woods of Bougival (78), whispers the life of a literary giant. Built in 1874, this Swiss-Russian residence, which has the Maison des Illustres label, was his refuge until his last breath. A literary treasure to be visited from March to the end of October, on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month. [Read more]
Maison de Chateaubriand: a journey to the heart of literary and architectural Romanticism
At the end of the RER B in the direction of Robinson, you'll find the Maison de Chateaubriand, in the Domaine de la Vallée-aux-Loups. Discover this elegant residence, which was home to the writer and his wife for many years. [Read more]
Musée Jean-Jacques Rousseau: visit the famous philosopher's house museum in Montmorency (95)
The Maison-Musée Jean-Jacques Rousseau, better known as the Petit Mont-Louis in Montmorency, opens the doors to the refuge where the philosopher wrote his masterpieces. Between his study, his bedroom and contemporary art exhibitions, this listed historic monument combines heritage, philosophy and nature to offer an inspiring visit in the heart of Val-d'Oise (95). [Read more]
A road paved with anecdotes, poetry and history, where every step becomes a page to explore. Here, literature is visited, breathed and lived.
Discover also the Maisons d'Artistes in Île-de-France :
The most beautiful artists' houses to discover in Paris and the Ile-de-France region
Victor Hugo, Balzac, Gainsbourg, Rodin, Delacroix... All these artists made Paris or its suburbs their home for part of their lives. The homes of these great names welcome you with open arms to discover their worlds. Just follow the guide! [Read more]
The most beautiful artists' houses to discover in Paris and the Ile-de-France region
