Adrienne Catherine de Noailles
Adrienne Catherine de Noailles, comtesse de Tessé (1741–1813), was a French salon host and letter writer. She was the daughter of Louis, the 4th Duke of Noailles, the sister of the 5th Duke, and the aunt of Marie Adrienne Françoise de Noailles. She became famous for her stylish Parisian salons and for her letters, including a long friendship with Thomas Jefferson.
She married René de Froulay, Comte de Tessé, in 1755. When the young Mozart visited Paris in 1764, he dedicated two piano–violin sonatas to her, and she rewarded him with a gold snuffbox and a gold watch.
In the early French Revolution, she hosted a political salon at her home on Rue de Varenne in Paris. The gatherings were known for their refined manners and for discussing progressive ideas. Lafayette, her nephew-in-law, often visited her country house at Château de Chaville. Thomas Jefferson met her while he was French minister and began a long correspondence after their visit. Gouverneur Morris also visited and commented on her views.
Some of her relatives were executed during the Revolution in 1794. She went into exile in 1797, living at Wittmoldt in Holstein with a large entourage, before returning to live at Lavardin Castle and in Le Mans after the turmoil.
Her husband died in 1814. Adrienne was interested in plants and gardens, and Jefferson exchanged seeds and plants with her for her château gardens. They wrote about their friendship and their gardens, including various plants such as beautyberry, persimmon, and a Chinese tree that was among the first of its kind in the United States.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 10:41 (CET).