The winemaker’s son Paul Thiry from the Palatinate and future Baron von Holbach is considered to be one of the pioneers of the French Revolution. His salon in Paris, where the intellectual elite of his time met to discuss and enjoy was legendary.

In 1723 Baron von Holbach was born as commoner Paul Thiry in Edesheim, a village that is located in the traditional wine region Palatinate. His father, Johann Jakob Thiry was winemaker. Paul would probably have followed in the footsteps of his father if it hadn’t been for his wealthy maternal uncle and later adoptive father Adam Franz von Holbach who became his patron. Paul graduated at the progressive Dutch University of Leyden in natural science and law in 1744. After graduating, he moved to Paris and acquired the French citizenship. When his uncle died in 1753, he not only inherited the title but also became a very pecunious man.

Paul von Holbach supported his friend Denis Diderot with his "Encyclopedia". Around 400 contributions to this work, which should gather the knowledge of the time and make it publicly available, were edited, translated or written anonymously by the Baron.

Many of the encyclopedians -including Jean Jacques Rousseau- met regularly in the Parisian townhouse of the Baron in the Rue Royale Saint Roch. Out of these meetings starting from 1760 to 1776 the "Salon d' Holbach" emerged. It was a meeting place for the intellectual elite of those days. Diderot said: “This is where everybody who counts among the honorable and intelligent people of the capital comes together". Not only regulars but also intellectuals from all over the world were attracted by the Rue Royale Saint Roch: David Hume, Adam Smith, Edward Gibbon, Ferdinando Galiani, Melchior Grimm and Benjamin Franklin. The special feature of these meetings was the openness of the discussions about religion, philosophy and politics - at that time this wasn’t exactly a safe undertaking!

Therefore the Baron published his books under different synonyms. How explosive his thoughts were in France at that time can be inferred from the fact that for example a pharmacist's assistant was sentenced to nine years in the galleys solely because he had sold a book by Paul von Holbach.

Baron von Holbach and his charming wife must have been exceptional hosts. Not only the extensive conversations but also the excellent food and the well-assorted wine cellar were praised beyond measure. During October 1760 Diderot wrote to Sophie Volland: "I'm becoming round like a ball- you will despise me!" And in September 1761:"I have eaten like a young wolf. (...) I have been drinking wine with all kinds of names."

Baron von Holbach died in Paris in January 1789, just months before the outbreak of the French Revolution. The contemporary master Henri wrote about him: "I hardly met somebody (...) that was such a universal scholarly as Baron von Holbach and I have never seen anyone who was so little ambitious, with so little desire to show his learnedness. With his science it was just as with his assets, it was there for the others as well as for him, but never for the public opinion and prestige."