Castle of Monte Cristo

At the height of his fame in 1844, after the success of The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, which had appeared successively in the press as serials, Alexandre Dumas sought to settle away from the incessant hustle and bustle of the city, in a place where he could find sufficient peace and quiet to work and provide publishers with his manuscripts. Dumas then resided in Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Captivated by the landscapes along the banks of the Seine, he chose a hill located on the slopes of Port-Marly to build his home. He hired an architect, and not just any architect, Hippolyte Durand, to make his dream come true. He wanted a Renaissance château built opposite a Gothic castle surrounded by water. The park was to be laid out in the English style and decorated with grottoes, rockeries, and waterfalls. Dumas gave his instructions, and his estate was designed according to his wishes. On July 25, 1847, the writer celebrated his housewarming party in the presence of a crowd of friends, admirers and curious onlookers.