My Event Tours

Come and live an unforgettable experience on Sunday Morning July 28th, 2024 in one of the most famous castle in the world !

In 1844, Alexandre Dumas was at the height of his fame. Flush with the success of The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte-Cristo (both published as serial novels in newspapers), he was looking for a place to escape the turmoil of the city and find the tranquility necessary to produce new manuscripts for his editors.

He resided in Saint Germain en Laye at that time and was captivated by the stretch of the Seine, prompting him to select a plot on the slopes of Port-Marly as the ideal location for his new home. He enlisted the services of Hippolyte Durand, a renowned architect of the era, to turn his vision into reality. This vision encompassed a renaissance chateau situated near a small gothic castle, complete with its own miniature moat. The gardens were to be designed “à l’anglaise”, featuring grottos, decorative rocks, and waterfalls. Dumas provided detailed instructions, and the estate was fashioned according to his specifications. On July 25, 1847, his housewarming party drew friends, admirers, and the curious to celebrate the occasion.

The Château de Monte-Cristo is a delight, with sculpted facades on every side. Dumas’ history, personality, and literary inspiration are visible everywhere you turn – from flowers, angels, and musical instruments, to heraldic arms and strange beasts. The writer had portraits of historic playwrights placed above each ground floor window, but pride of place goes to Dumas himself, who still greets you from above the entrance. The family coat of arms is carved on the pediment, along with Dumas’ personal motto: “I love those who love me.” In a final flourish, the pinnacles rising from the Château’s two turrets are inscribed with the writer’s monogram.