Château de Monte-Cristo — Attraction in Saint-Germain-en-Laye

Omg the “château” is so tiny ! And it’s not at all well furnished inside, seems almost empty. It’s the outside that is the most interesting thing to see, amazing architectural work by the way.

But I wouldn’t even go as far as saying it’s an Hotel Particulier, the size just doesn’t match. Seems like the original owner just liked the sound of “château” for his house, and probably didn’t spend as much on interior design as he did on the outside… which goes to show on the character I guess.

The park is cute, and you should definitely take the time to walk it…

Speaking or walk, the way to get there is so annoying. They closed the main entrance, so you have to walk all around the property and go from the back… and then when you want to leave, same circus. Even though the main entrance that gives to the sidewalk is right there ! For pedestrians it’s just so not practical.

You don’t need to take the guided tour, best to look around by yourself. The guide talks a lot and there’s so many people following her, that you can’t really look around or move freely because of that : it’s just too small for it. Everything important is already written...

It is hard to believe that the house was in a state of ghastly neglect a few decades ago. Such a wonderful job has been done restoring it and its grounds. Really, a magical place. I really enjoy Alexandre Dumas's books. They are fun and thrilling. The man himself must have been quite a character. And it shows in what he had built for himself: his main house, the castle of Monte-Cristo, and the Castle of If, his writing studio. The grounds are quite fun too, with a bunch of caves here and there. The objects on exhibit give you a real glimpse into the man's life, and frankly, his life must have been sweet there at Monte-Cristo. The entrance fee is only 8€, which is a bargain for this oddity provided by one of our greatest and most prolific writer. And the staff is oh-so-friendly! This place is like no other, it feels like somebody's dream and it is. Really...

We quite spontaneously discovered this charming ensemble of châteaus as the perfect destination for a day trip from Paris, after a stroll through the garden at Château Saint-Germain-en-Laye (best view of Paris skyline). If, like us, you are a lover of eccentric gardens and architectural designs, you will fall in love with it. The woman in charge of the house exhibition truly deserves a raise—she is a gem! She gave us the most brilliant explanation of the fabulous Alexandre Dumas and was kind enough to keep the rooms open a little longer for us. It’s clear when people love their jobs, and she certainly does. Thank you very much! We will definitely spread the word, although it is not necessary as everybody is already asking where we took the...