Maison de Chateaubriand

About the museum

In 1807, after a critical article about Napoleon's regime, François-René de Chateaubriand left Paris. On August 22, he and his wife Céleste bought a gardener's house in the Vallée-aux-Loups, in Châtenay-Malabry. He stayed for ten years, laid out the park, added a portico and a double-flight staircase, wrote Les Martyrs and L'Itinéraire de Paris à Jérusalem in the Velléda tower, and began the Mémoires d'outre-tombe. Falling out of favour, he sold the estate in 1818.

Duke Mathieu de Montmorency, who received Juliette Récamier here, added a so-called troubadour wing and a chapel. The La Rochefoucauld-Doudeauville family had a second wing built in 1859. In 1914, Dr. Henry Le Savoureux, an admirer of the writer, bought the estate, set up a rest home there and founded the Société Chateaubriand in 1930. He also hosted a literary salon here.

The site was listed as a historic monument in 1939. The Hauts-de-Seine département bought the property in 1967, restored it to recreate the atmosphere of a 19th-century romantic residence, and opened it to the public in 1987. In 2011 it received the “Maison des Illustres” label. The literary park, covering about 10.7 hectares, combines trees planted by the writer or brought back from his travels with an 18th-century ice house. The house displays manuscripts, furniture, paintings and prints.

Highlights

• Chateaubriand's study and bedroom, the Velléda tower in the park
• Blue Salon with Juliette Récamier's chaise longue
• Literary park with trees from around the world
• Double-flight staircase and portico with caryatids
• Audio guide for adults and audio guide for children aged 6 to 12

Permanent exhibitions

• La maison de Chateaubriand – Tour of the house's rooms: antechamber, study, bedrooms of the writer and Céleste, dining room, grand salon, Blue Salon and Le Savoureux salon, with manuscripts, furniture and art objects.
• Le parc littéraire – Park of about 10.7 hectares with the Velléda tower, trees planted by Chateaubriand or brought back from his travels, and an 18th-century ice house.

Founded

1987

Operated by

Département des Hauts-de-Seine

Director

Bernard Degout

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month; also during Département operations and national events (European Heritage Days, European Museum Night, Rendez-vous aux jardins, Night of Reading).

Access to the park is free of charge. Also free for job seekers, recipients of social minimum benefits, journalists, members of ICOM and ICOMOS, teachers, licensed guides, veterans and members of the friends' association. The outdoor presentation of the house and park and the two-voice park tour are free. Payment in cash or by bank card.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Only the ground floor of the house is wheelchair-accessible: the staircases are narrow and there is no elevator. A wheelchair is lent for the ground floor; folding seats are available at reception for both levels, and fixed seats are placed along the route. From the Robinson RER station, the path is about 1.4 km on a paved, steeply sloping route; from 87 rue de Chateaubriand, allow about 300 m. Small vehicles carrying people with reduced mobility may ask to park on the grounds at the top of the hill. Dogs are not allowed in the literary park, except guide dogs.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Audio guide for children aged 6 to 12 and an activity booklet for 6- to 12-year-olds about the house. Workshops and courses for children and teens during school holidays, storytelling sessions and detective games for families.

Getting there & parking

The estate holds the “Accueil Vélo” label, with bicycle parking at several nearby addresses.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The shop is open during house hours, Tuesday to Sunday: books, stationery and decorative objects; orders can also be placed by phone. Occasional food offers; no permanent café is announced. Picnicking is not allowed in the house grounds. Large bags and suitcases may be refused at the entrance. Lockers, bicycle repair tools and e-bike charging points are at the lodge at 87 rue de Chateaubriand.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

The house, the collection gardens and the literary park can host breakfasts, lectures, seminars, cocktail receptions, press conferences and filming. Requests must be made at least two months in advance.

Plan your visit