Illiers-Combray: The village that inspired Marcel Proust

The village of Illiers-Combray is forever linked to Marcel Proust’s great novel, A la recherche du temps perdu (In Search of Lost Time). The idyllic Combray of his childhood is the setting for the first and best-known volume.

In Illiers-Combray you will find the faithfully restored “Maison de Tante Léonie,” exactly as described in the opening pages of Du côté de chez Swann (Swann’s Way). The Pré Catelan, an exotic landscaped garden designed by Proust’s uncle, the horticulturalist Jules Amiot, is within easy walking distance. Other Proustian sites nearby are the Château de Villebon, the leafy banks of the Vivonne River, Guermantes and Méséglise, all of which constitute a fantastic voyage through a landscape inspired by the author’s work.

• Try out the Proust Questionnaire
• The Madeleine: A local delicacy

Don’t Miss:
Proust called it the Château de Guermantes, country home of the Duchess of Guermantes, but in real life, this medieval jewel is the Château de Villebon. A brick castle complete with crenulated towers, a moat and working drawbridge, it sits in the middle of a formal garden. The chateau, built in 1391, is privately owned but occasionally opens its doors to visitors.

• For opening hours and more information