Summary
I'm taking you today to my favorite castle in Yvelines, my little "darling" in a way. This castle is the Château de Monte-Cristo, residence of Alexandre Dumas. A true "reduction of the earthly paradise" as the writer liked to say, this place full of history is indeed a real haven of peace. This is undoubtedly what struck me the most during my visit. Let me tell you the story!
HISTORY OF THE CASTLE
In 1844, Alexandre Dumas was at the height of his glory. After the success of his masterpieces The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo , successively serialized in Le Siècle , Mr. Dumas acquired a reputation and above all the financial means that enabled him to realize his dreams. Finally not so far from us, this genius has a simple desire:to acquire land, imagine and build HIS home, he who was only a tenant until now.
In search of tranquility to find inspiration and creativity, Alexandre Dumas finds the perfect land on the heights of Port-Marly to build his dream home. And to make his imagined earthly paradise a reality, he will call on the greatest:the entrepreneur Barthélemy Planté and the great Hippolyte Durand.
Alexandre Dumas' desires are great, his ideas are original and unique. He will say to Hippolyte Durand:
As desired as he was, Alexandre Dumas did not enjoy his haven of peace for long. His repeated excesses and the French Revolution of 1848 simply led him to ruin. He is forced to sell Monte Cristo and all the furniture that composes it, for 31,000 francs (gold), while its construction was worth several hundred thousand. He could still enjoy it until 1851, before going into exile in Belgium.
© Society of Friends of Alexandre Dumas
The castle will then pass from hand to hand until 1969, which of course caused its gradual deterioration. Then property of a real estate company, the castle is close to destruction and was to give way at this time to… 400 housing units (I see you boiling behind your screen!!). The Castle will finally be saved thanks to heritage lovers:The three cities of Port-Marly, Marly-le-Roi and Le Pecq, as well as the Society of Friends of Alexandre Dumas. A great reward, this place has been classified as a Historic Monument since 2016.
A CHÂTEAU IN THE IMAGE OF SOUND OWNER
Alexandre Dumas created one of his most beautiful masterpieces by building Monte-Cristo. Like his novels, his castle is the pure fruit of his imagination and creativity. There was no question of following the architectural movement of the time, the novelist wanted to stand out and show everyone the uniqueness of his whimsical tastes.
The generous Alexandre Dumas did not hesitate to get personally involved in the construction of the structures since the first plans for the Domaine de Port-Marly are attributed to him. I am amused to think that Mr Dumas wanted his castle to be an extension of himself or at least the movable proof of his success as the signs of his success are affixed to these walls. Its objective was to show anyone visiting the castle that they were entering the world of Dumas. I tell you this in a paragraph a little later, photos in support.
What is striking, and what one is led to wonder is that ultimately this castle is not one of the masterpieces of the writer? Do not hesitate to go and form your own opinion! Go and discover this time bubble steeped in history, which I really appreciate on a personal level.
VISIT OF THE DOMAINE DE MONTE-CRISTO
I now suggest that you leave room for the discovery of the different places on the estate:
The English garden
You might think, but why does she start by talking about the gardens? Quite simply because my visit began with the gardens, and that is exactly what I advise you to do to discover the Château de Monte-Cristo as it should be. The arrival at the castle can be done by several ways. The simplest and most direct takes you directly to Monte-Cristo. And the most perilous, and hot in my opinion, goes through the gardens 😊
According to the wishes of Alexandre Dumas, the gardens were built in the English style. There are very few of them in France, which is probably what also makes it so charming. In total contradiction with the French gardens, these gardens favor the rediscovery of nature, in its wildest form. The symmetrical flowerbeds give way to these winding paths, overlooking picturesque viewpoints. This is exactly what we find in Monte-Cristo. The waterfalls and caves wanted by Dumas bring this peaceful side that I appreciate so much in this place, and which makes this place this famous "earthly paradise" dear to Dumas.
Warning, the park is difficult to access for people with reduced mobility.
The Chateau d'If
Passing through the gardens, you will come across this neo-Gothic little gem:the Château d'If. As a true self-respecting artist, Alexandre Dumas wanted a place to give free rein to his creativity, and thus write his works to the full. As you will have understood, this is indeed his personal study.
A surprise awaits you outside the neo-Gothic castle. Several writings are present all around, these are 88 titles of the works of the writers and characters, directly carved in stone. Alexandre Dumas therefore pays tribute here to his works, to himself therefore 😉
You will find at the back of this monument a relatively strange construction, it is a spiral staircase which had been forgotten by Dumas when he thought of the plans. Being a great writer doesn't make him a great architect 😉
Château Monte Cristo
I was particularly surprised by the simplicity of construction of the building, relatively "small" compared to what one can usually see, and of a very singular square shape. Alexandre Dumas has definitely imprinted his soul there by building this place in his image. A bit megalomaniac perhaps?
The facade
Arriving in front of the castle, you will be greeted by Alexandre Dumas himself, who had his portrait carved above the entrance, accompanied by his personal motto "J'aime qui m'aime". Above, his intertwined initials again show that he is the leader here! The decorations all around the castle are very elaborate. There are sculpted animals, alongside floral motifs, weapons and musical instruments. Above the windows on the ground floor, you can observe portraits of dramatic writers appreciated by the writer.
On the ground floor
Inside the house you will find a dining room and several small lounges. The entire castle is a veritable museum in memory of the writer, which will lead you to find a number of archives relating to his personal life, but above all his life as a writer.
Upstairs:The Moorish Salon
Undoubtedly the most beautiful and surprising room in the castle. The whole castle being of Renaissance style, you will be surprised by the change of atmosphere. The Orient takes up residence in this living room, again according to the tastes of Alexandre Dumas! You're probably wondering why? It was during one of his trips to Tunisia that Dumas, captivated by Moorish art, obtained permission to bring an artist and his son back so that they could reproduce it in his home in Port Marly. It is THE centerpiece of the castle.
LIFE IN MONTE-CRISTO IN THE TIME OF ALEXANDRE DUMAS
The phrase "live your dreams":Alexandre Dumas applied it well. He lived little in this castle, but enjoyed it as he should, and at the height of his imagination and his extravagances.
His female conquests were regularly invited to Monte-Cristo. As a visitor, you wouldn't have been surprised to come across some of his mistresses, because yes, Alexandre Dumas was what is called "a ladies' man".
As a good living, he organized sumptuous parties and cooked gourmet meals himself for his guests, whom he did not necessarily know. Admittedly, Alexandre Dumas had his heart on his sleeve and was one of those men endowed with extreme generosity. The story goes that some of these friends and guests weren't shy about enjoying it...perhaps a little too much?
Did you know ? As a fine gourmet, Alexandre Dumas wrote a Dictionary of cuisine gathering particularly surprising recipes:stuffed elephant foot, kangaroo fillets,...
Animals were also welcome:dogs, cats, parrots, a vulture named Jugurtha and monkeys animated the place for the entertainment of visitors to Monte-Cristo.
Anecdote by Notebook of History
HOW TO VISIT IT
Free visit
If you want to walk independently, and discover the residence of Alexandre Dumas without a guide, you can do so thanks to the free visit. Several signs and explanations on his life and on the place are at your disposal. However, you will be limited if you want to know everything about the place.
Guided tours
On the second Sunday of each month, from February to November, a guided tour of the park and the castle is offered. This is an ideal way if you want to know more about Alexandre Dumas and the Château de Monte-Cristo.
Tours are offered:
At 1.30 p.m., 2 p.m., 2.30 p.m., 3 p.m., 3.30 p.m., 4 p.m. in February, March and November
At 2.30 p.m., 3 p.m., 3.30 p.m., 4 p.m., 4.30 p.m. and 5 p.m. from April to October.
Visiting time:1 hour
Theatrical visit
Discover life in the time of Alexandre Dumas told by fictional characters straight out of the writer's works. They will explain to you how life was in Monte-Cristo from the year 1846 to 1851.
If you are looking for an idea of fun, original and cultural visits to do with children, this is what you need. I had the opportunity to discover it during my visit, I can assure you that both adults and children were captivated.
Opening times and prices:
– Sundays April 5, May 31, June 28, July 26, August 30, September 27 and October 25, 2020 continuously from 2 p.m. until 5.30 p.m.
– €10 per adult / €2 per child from 3 to 9 years old / Free for children under 3
Surprise visit by an actress
If you want to step back in time and relive the time when Alexandre Dumas walked the winding paths of Monte Cristo, then I advise you to come on a "surprise" visit. As you explore, you will meet his wife, one of his mistresses, and other colorful characters. They will tell you about their incredible experience alongside the great writer, whether real or fictional.
Opening and price:
– To take advantage of this visit, come The last Sunday of February, March and November.
– 8€ per adult / 2€ per child from 3 to 9 years old / Free for children under 3 years old
LOCATION AND ACCESS
His situation
The Château de Monte-Cristo is located in Île-de-France, in the Yvelines department. It is ideally located about 28 kilometers from Paris in the town of Port Marly.
How to access it
– By car:Via the A13, take the Saint Germain en Laye exit, then head towards Marly Le Roi. When you arrive, you will come across a portal, so you have to ring the bell to enter. A free car park with 50 spaces is at your disposal
– By train:RER Line A towards Saint Germain en Laye and stop, then take bus line 10 towards Marly Le Roi to the “Les Lampes” stop. The Castle is located 5min walk.
RATES AND TIMES OF MONTE-CRISTO
Rates for the castle + the park
– Adult:€7
– Child:free
– Reduced price:€5
– Free for children under 25 on presentation of proof
Park-only fee: 3€
Schedules
Open all year except Mondays.
Weekdays, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Allow approximately 1 hour to visit the entire estate.
You now know everything (or almost) about the Château de Monte-Cristo, the earthly paradise of Alexandre Dumas. Personally, I find that this nickname suits him very well. The English garden with its winding paths leading to this chateau, which is both convivial and authentic, gives it a soothing atmosphere, the one so much sought after by the writer. For anyone who simply wants to know more about the writer, this monument is a real memorial. Everything you need to know about him is here.
Source:
The Château de Monte-Cristo website:https://www.chateau-monte-cristo.com/main/
Friends of Alexandre Dumas:https://amisdumas.com/
Gazette -drouot https://www.gazette-drouot.com/article/monte-cristo-une-folie-d-alexandre-dumas/8211
Pop.culture.gouv.fr https://www.pop. culture.gouv.fr/notice/merimee/PA00087575
Gallica bnf https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k540439n/f1.item.r=%22chateau%20de%20monte%20cristo%22 .zoom