HOME   ARTICLES   ABOUT US   LINKS   SPECIAL DEALS   CONTACT

Bargain Travel Europe guide to Europe on a budget for vacation destinations, travel ideas and secret spots missed by travel tours.

CHÂTEAU DE COPPET LAKE GENEVA
Madame de Staël’s Swiss Salon and the Emperor

The Emperor Napoleon in exile for the last time on the Isle of St Helena after the end of his glorious reign turned to inglorious solitude, between complaining about his treatment under his British custodians spent his time writing memoirs. In them he expressed one great regret, if only he had not spurned one particular woman. Madame Germaine de Staël was born in Paris, Anne Louise Germaine Necker, the daughter of Jacques Necker, then Finance Minister to King Louis XVI. Jacques Necker along with the Rothchilds, through his connections to the French monarchy had been one of the progenitors of the Swiss banking system. One of his elegant watches can be found in the collection of Patek Phillipe in Geneva (see Patek Philippe Museum Geneva). Neckar bought a Chateau in the little village of Coppet on the shores of Lake Geneva in 1784, with the intention of retiring there, but the house became a family refuge during the bloody heights of the French Revolution.

Madame de Stael attained her more familiar title from an arranged marriage to the Swedish Ambassador to France. A woman of plain looks, but sharp mind and a bit of a coquette, her marriage was loveless and she had more than a few liaisons, but Emperor Napoleon would find hell hath no fury as a woman scorned - who knows how to use a pen. Madame de Stael could write and her literary salons in Paris were legendary. At a party given by minister Talleyrand celebrating Napoleon's his conquering of Italy (see Colorno Palace Parma), the budding author asked the general who he thought was the greatest woman of the time and he responded – “she who has bourne the most children.” He later said of the encounter, “She combined all her resources to make an impression upon the General of the Army of Italy. Unfortunately, the general's only answer was an indifference which women never forgive.”

She did not. She was a constant critic of Napoleon Bonaparte. Yet, even he paid her the rare compliment of recognizing the power of her pen in his memoir. “It cannot be denied that Madame de Stael is a distinguished woman, endowed with great talents, and possessing a considerable share of wit. She was ardent in her passions, vehement and extravagant in her expressions...an adversary to be feared. She and I have waged a little war against each other.” So vexed by her criticisms, the Emperor had her banished from Paris. Madame Germaine de Stael moved her salons to the Swiss chateau in Coppet, where she continued to attract authors and literati. Lord Byron was a regular guest during his stay in Geneva (see Villa Diodati and the Gothic Summer).

An early 13th Century chateau of the Savoy period was mostly destroyed by a fire, while the current Chateau Coppet is of the 18th Century symmetrical manor house form. One medieval tower remains at the corner of a cobble-stone courtyard. Informal gardens surround the house which still remains in the hands of the descendents of Madame de Stael. Guided tours of the public areas of house are available. The chateau retains the feeling of a lived in elegant period home, with a collection of portraits of past residents. The Chateau de Coppet is open for visitors from Easter until October 31, every day from 2pm to 6pm.

A visit to Chateau Coppet is an easy day trip from Geneva. A twenty minute train ride from the Geneva main station from platform 1, or by car, following the lakeshore to the east suburbs. The village of Coppet is a quiet little old town of arcade walk architecture with pleasant restaurants for an afternoon lunch. Summer concerts are sometimes held in the park grounds opposite the Chateau. © Bargain Travel Europe

Search best travel deals in Geneva on Trip Advisor

Web Info
Geneva

These articles are copyrighted and the sole property of Bargain Travel Europe and WLPV, LLC. and may not be copied or reprinted without permission.

SEE ALSO:

SWISS RAIL PASS
Switzerland Travel Value by Train Bus or Boat

CASTLE CHILLON
Inspiration of the Romantics on Lake Geneva

CRUISING LAKE GENEVA IN GRAND STYLE
“ La Belle Epoch” Cruises of Switzerland’s Great Lake

CERN: HADRON SUPER COLLIDER - GENEVA
Visit and Tour the Nuclear Research Lab in Geneva

Privacy
Legal
Contact

Discover Travel in Europe on a Budget with Bargain Travel Europe ©2006-09 Winged Lion Entertainment Ventures, LLC