Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592)
Important leading figure in the field of French Renaissance writing
Michel de Montaigne wrote some of the first ever 'essays' - works written from the author's personal perspective - which are today some of the most frank and easy-to-follow from this period.
He is thought to have influenced many authors: Descartes, Emerson, Rousseau and possibly even Shakespeare. He is famously the author of the quote "the only thing certain is nothing is certain". Despite these achievements, he was more widely known during his lifetime for his role in keeping the region in favour with the Kings of France and acting as a balancing power between the Protestants and the Roman Catholics.
Born on the family estate in a town now named Saint-Michel-de-Montaigne, near to Castillon-la-Bataille, he was the Mayor of Bordeaux for four years during the mid-16th century.
What to visit
Dating from the 14th century, Château de Montaigne has been rebuilt several times, particularly after the huge fire in 1885. It's now a private property. The château tower, saved from the flames, was Montaigne's refuge and can be visited. The first floor houses the bedroom of Michel de Montaigne, where he died in 1592 but most importantly you must visit the top floor, the Library, where he wrote much of his famous 'essays'.
