Manoir du Philosophe, France

Manoir du Philosophe is a relatively simple, traditional French house. To see the reason for this enigmatic location name, you just need to look at the kitchen/dining room wall. Many handwritten quotations litter the walls here. This is certainly an unusual feature and appears to be part of the decor (rather than graffiti).

Speculation and tales of the former occupant

Evidence suggests that the house has been vacant for 10-15 years. Presently, there is no information available about the last owner(s). Manor du Philisophe is another homestead rotting in the French countryside. An interesting backstory provides context and answers questions. It is almost a pre-requisite to photographs of lost places.

One rumour spins a dramatic yarn. This version of events involves a lady who descended into insanity. While in states of mania, she took to writing quotes upon the walls. With her mental health deteriorating she was no longer able to live alone. She was taken into care at a specialist hospital. The tale concludes with a house left empty, with no next of kin to pass it onto.

Other speculations suggest Manoir du Philosophe was a holiday home or guest house. In this rendition, the quotes on the wall are merely a quirky decoration of the communal kitchen area. However, this story does not include speculation as to why the owners abandoned the house.

Manoir du Philosophe in 2018

When we visited Manoir du Philosophe during our Easter 2018 road trip, the downstairs was a chaotic mess. Personal items littered the tables, presumably by “visitors” in search of valuables. The light was also failing, as sunset approached. Between the untidiness and the poor light, the downstairs was not photographed. Instead, we occupied ourselves with the colourful and retro-decor in the bedrooms.