The History : René Descartes

Since 1852

Since 1852, a family owned this estate for generations and lived there as farmers did at that time. Harvests, hay making, grape harvests were favourable times for celebrations and gatherings at the Perron. During the following wars, the Perron welcomed prisoners and refugees who could find a new family there. After the farm works people used to stop by the perron to chat and to have a strong home made drink. Since those times, The Perron has kept the tradition of a warm and friendly place.

Pascal Thiollet, the current owner, always wished to maintain the spirit of the Perron while reconciling tradition with modern life. In 1998, helped by the whole family, he started important renovations to transform the farm into a small country hotel."The Perron" became again a welcoming place and in 2001 from the passion of this man for this place sprang the Pigeonnier du Perron. Today, Emilie, his daughter, welcomes you in this charming hotel helped by her assistant Fridda Vilain.

René Descartes Gentleman in Poitou Sieur du Perron

René Descartes often boasted about being a gentleman :

To this noble title inherited from his father added the title of a small but noble land in the province of Poitou, "the Perron". He inheritated this land at his majority. Urged by his father, young Descartes had to sell his estates in order to obtain the responsability of lieutenant in Chatellerault. But even if he sold the estate a special clause made him stay " the Seigneur du Perron" for his whole entire life. That's why René Descartes often used this title and even signed some of his writings with the name of "Sieur" or "Seigneur du Perron".

When the famous universalist died in Stockholm in Februrary 1650, the mausoleum bore this inscription : « Renatus Descartes, Perronti dominus »