Pour une simple halte ou pour une visite plus longue, de multiples activités sont proposées :… Apr 9, 2012 - Chateau d'If Alexandre Dumas built this little castle in 1844 as his writing hideaway. However, other locations have been used to represent Château d'If in film adaptations of the work. Still attached to his home, Dumas was able to remain at Monte-Cristo with the consent of the buyer, until 1851, when he left his personal paradise behind for exile in Belgium. It stands atop a small limestone island opposite the harbor of Marseille, and its terrace affords a splendid view of the port. Closed 1. +33 1 39 16 49 49, The Syndicat intercommunal de Monte-Cristo. Here’s our guide to the history behind … In a final flourish, the pinnacles rising from the chateau's two turrets are inscribed with the writer's monogram. The Château d’If, as Dumas named it, is a delightful tiny neo-gothic castle, whose facades are carved with titles of his work. The noise of the waves dashing against the rocks on which the chateau is built, reached Dantes’ ear distinctly as they went forward. The "chateau d'If" - Dumas' name for this charming neo-gothic castle - stands in its own moat and is full of architectural curiosity. The park became overgrown and the sculptures were broken.The owner, a private development company that had rented out the chateau for a number of years, planned to build 400 new homes on the site. Have you visited these 9 French cities? CC BY-SA 3.0 The Moorish room on the first floor comes as a surprise among the European-style decor, but it's as authentic as you could want. cried he (…) Alexandre Dumas (father) The Count of Monte Cristo. It is this fictional character from the novel of Alexandre Dumas that made the Château d’If so popular among tourists visiting Marseilles. The cliff-top watchtower can be seen from the ferry crossing between Malta and Gozo. Author: Moonik. Its honey-colored facade, just three stories high and topped with round domes, is covered with stone carvings of floral motifs, angels, musical instruments and great writers and philosophers including the likes of Dante, Homer, and Shakespeare. It was rescued from destruction in 1969 by the local authorities and the Friends of Monte-Cristo. The “chateau d’If” – Dumas’ name for this charming neo-gothic castle – stands in its own moat and is full of architectural curiosity. Partez à la découverte du château d’If, lieu emblématique de l’œuvre d’Alexandre Dumas, le comte de Monte-Cristo. Monte-Cristo is pure Alexandre Dumas, a genuine reflection of his creative imagination. In 1844, Alexandre Dumas was at the height of his fame. The writer stamped his creative soul on the building; its facades are carved with titles of his works, and decorated with sculptures of some of his fictional heroes. The "chateau d'If" - Dumas' name for this charming neo-gothic castle - stands in its own moat and is full of architectural curiosity. Review of Chateau d'If Reviewed April 11, 2017 Castle then using prisoner. It was rescued from destruction in 1969 … Surrounded by rolling parkland, the Renaissance-style château is quite small. In 1848, pursued by his many creditors, Dumas decided to sell his property along with all his furniture and decorative objects. Château d'If is today regarded as one of the most famous European prisons. The island is part of the Frioul archipelago, overlooking the central harbour. Dumas loved to entertain at Monte-Cristo. Not to mention his missing such nice details as the carrying of the latrine bucket from the cell daily, about which Dumas with the ignorance of a free person says nothing. His door was  open to everyone, including many who lived at his expense, taking advantage of his legendary hospitality and open-handedness. Dumas died in 1870 at Puys, near Dieppe, in the house of his son Alexandre Dumas the Younger, best known for The Lady of the Camellias. World of Fantasy. The writer stamped his creative soul on the building; its facades are carved with titles of his works, and decorated with sculptures of some of his fictional heroes. Château d'If History Dumas' home was full of pets, too. Château d'if The Défi de Monte-Cristo, an exceptional challenge where sporting effort joins the cultural imagination thanks to Alexandre Dumas, wanted to give on its website all the place that the Château d'If deserves: That of a historic and legendary place known all over the world! Reportedly, some 550 out of the 600 individuals who showed up at Dumas’s housewarming on July 25 1847 were gatecrashers. Little by little, the chateau fell into disrepair and lost its prestige. Visitors can take a ferry boat from the Vieux Port (Old Port) to … The park folds the chateau in a green embrace - a graceful setting. There are many day trips you can take from Paris, but one of the best for any fan of literature or architecture must visit the Château de Monte Cristo just outside Paris. The castle was made famous when Alexandre Dumas père, the 19th-century French writer, used it as one of the settings in his novel The Count of Monte Cristo … A generous host and bon viveur, he lived surrounded by his mistresses and friends, hangers-on and his dogs, cats, parrots, and monkeys. “The Château d’If ? He hired Hippolyte Durand, a notable architect of the day to make his dream a reality. Dumas himself is center stage above the main entrance. To escape the pressure of his fame, Dumas moved from Paris to Saint Germain-en-Laye then found a plot of land on a hill just by Le Port-Marly for his new project which was to be his ’miniature paradise on earth’. 2nd october to 31st December: from 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Celebrated by Alexandre Dumas and his character Edmond Dantès, the Count of Monte Cristo, the Château d'If is one of the most visited sites in Marseille, with more than 100,000 visitors a year. The intimate room—perfect for seduction—was decorated by a Tunisian craftsman he met during his extensive travels and brought back to work on the building. Naturally, Dumas christened the chateau the "Château de Monte-Cristo" and the Gothic house the "Chateau D'If." and who anticipates a future corresponding with his past. The name was taken from the Alexandre Dumas classic, The Count Of Monte Cristo in which the main character, Edmond Dantes is imprisoned on the island prison of Chateau d'If where he grows and transforms into the person he was always meant to be. Chateau Dumas Chateau Dumas is a beautiful 18th century estate with 22 acres of private gardens and pool located in the countryside in southwest France, one hour north of the vibrant city of Toulouse. Vaux-le-Vicomte Near Paris Started With Intrigue and Ended in Glory, The Ultimate Château Road Trip Through Burgundy, France, Explore the Home of Alexandre Dumas in Monte Cristo. In the 2002 adaptation starring Jim Caviezel, the château was represented by Saint Mary's Tower on Comino, the smallest inhabited Maltese island. The monument is open Our teams are happy to welcome you safely and in accordance with the new visit methods presented on this following page. In an emotional response, two preservation groups came together to save this heritage from the threat of the speculators. It is famous for being one of the settings of Alexandre Dumas’ adventure novel, The Count of Monte Cristo. It takes you through the story of this extraordinary writer. They're all worth a look at. A sculpture of a dog in a niche decorates the stairs leading up to the Château d’If. He spoke Italian like a Tuscan, and Spanish like a Castilian; he would have been free, and happy with Mercedes and his father, whereas he was now confined in the Chateau d’If, that impregnable fortress, ignorant of the future destiny of his father and Mercedes; and all … The narrator says that Dantes himself is on the verge of madness after his days spent in the horrid conditions of the Chateau D’If, thinking only of Mercedes and his father. 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. Château d'If is open every day except Monday, from Jan. 2 to April 1 and from Oct. 2 to Dec. 31, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Demolition loomed. The literal English translation is the Castle or Fortress of Possibility. Legend of Château d’If In Literature Alexandre Dumas from photo display at Chateau d’If (J. Chung) Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870) was born in Picardy, France and was a successful playwright and novelist. The decorated stairs of the Château d’If. It’s the tale of sailor Edmond Dantès who was wrongly accused of treason and spent 14 years at Chateau d’If … The Château d’If was built from 1524-31 under the order of Francis I. The chateau de Monte-Cristo is a delight, with sculpted facades on every side. Money was no object and he employed the fashionable architect Hippolyte Durand, who went on to design the Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception at Lourdes in 1872. Unlike him, your stay at Chateau d'If won't be 14 years of unjust imprisonment. The last visit depends on the timetable of boats, information at the tourist information center, on our website (External link)or on Frioul If express. Dumas wanted a garden in the English style planted with the finest trees : "larches, fir trees, oak, birch, hornbeam, limetrees..." The area's natural features combined with its numerous springs were the perfect ingredients for the idealised romantic atmosphere he sought, and the result is beautifully stage-managed. The roof developed holes and water began to seep inside. You wander through a small set of rooms decorated with furniture, art, sculptures, and artifacts. His father, Thomas-Alexandre Dumas was a general in the French army and provided inspiration for his son’s writings. Keep in mind that entrance to the fortress costs extra – 6 euros (around $7). The château passed from hand to hand, suffered from neglect and became dilapidated. Fountains, rockeries and waterfalls completed the effect. The notorious fortress that was part of the setting for the historic novel The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas was infamously the prison for many of France’s political and religious captives. That's especially true of the park, where Dumas' generosity of spirit and extravagance captivates now just as it did in his lifetime. Château d'If Off the coast of Marseille, discover the Château d’If and its unique panorama. The property changed hands several times until 1969. In If Its castle, built by the French king Francis I in 1524, was later used as a state prison. Château d'If Château d'If, a famous castle in southern France. The château passed from hand to hand, suffered from neglect and became dilapidated. While the Château d’If gained a large amount of notoriety on its own, it began to receive worldwide notice following the printing of Alexandre Dumas’ novel, The Count of Monte Cristo, in 1844. Protestants and Republicans, plus anyone opposing official authority was imprisoned at Château d’If from 1580 until 1871. The Chateau d'If is the island fortress located off the coast of Marseille France. 1st January, 1st May and 25th December and subject to bad weather Dogs and cats roamed the grounds, but the menagerie included parrots, monkeys and even a vulture ... life was never dull chez Dumas. He was then living in Saint Germain en Laye. Mary Anne Evans is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers. On the first floor is one of the highlights of the chateau: a salon decorated in authentic moorish style. Dumas died in 1870 at Puys, near Dieppe, in the house of his son Alexandre Dumas the Younger, best known for The Lady of the Camellias. Dumas' history, personality and literary inspiration are visible everywhere you turn - from flowers, angels and musical instruments, to heraldic arms and strange beasts. This was Dumas' study, where he retreated for hours on end to write in peace and solitude. The château is delightful, a rather homely castle you could imagine living in. On the 22nd March, 1849, Alexandre Dumas settled up for the modest sum of 31,000 gold francs, though the property had cost him hundreds of thousands. It’s a delightful château that the author Alexander Dumas (1802-1870) had built for him in 1844 after his two novels, The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers shot him to the top of 19th-century bestsellers lists. Mondays from 2nd January to 1st April and from 2nd october to 31st December 2. "People fall in love with this monument, Balzac once described the duo as “one of the most delicious follies ever created … the most royal sweetbox in existence.” Everything about the life and times of Alexandre Dumas was filled with romance. rather as the young fall in love with the moon" The gardens were to be laid out "à l'anglaise", with grottos, ornamental rocks and waterfalls... Dumas gave instructions and the estate was created according to his wishes. It couldn't last forever, not even for Dumas. On the grounds of Chateau de Monte Cristo in Marly le Roi, France. Built as a fortress against Mediterranean Sea raiders between 1524 and 1531, Chateau d’If is still situated on its small, forbidding island about a mile from the French city of Marseille. It’s where his hero was wrongly imprisoned for years. It was made legendary by Alexandre Dumas in his classic novel, The Count of Monte Cristo. Built on a small 30.000 square meters island in the Bay of Marseille, this fortified fortress with walls guarding every inch of its coast represented perfect place for prison. Château d’If is an old island prison off the coast of Marseille. This was Dumas' study, where he retreated for hours on end to write in peace and solitude. Alexandre Dumas > Quotes > Quotable Quote “Dantes had entered the Chateau d’If with the round, open, smiling face of a young and happy man, with whom the early paths of life have been smooth. Specialties: Sur les traces du Masque de Fer L'île d'If est la plus petite île de l'archipel du Frioul avec ses 3 hectares de rocher blanc. The Château d’If is located on the island of If, which is one of four islands that make up the Frioul archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea off of the coast of Marseille. Chateau d’If was a notorious prison in its own right but it became world famous with the publication of Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo in 1844. He held court, entertained his female conquests and organised fabulous parties, serving up culinary dishes of his his own devising. Despite the vast amounts of money he earned, he was forced to sell the château though he remained there until 1851. The Château de Monte-Cristo is a writer's house museum located in the French country. Château de Monte-Cristo • 78560 Le Port-Marly • Tél. 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 somewhere where he could escape the turmoil of the city, and find the calm he needed to produce new manuscripts for his editors. Léon Gozlan – L'Almanach comique - 1848. Cont de Monte cristo idea has been realised by Alexander Dumas.. (Subject to modification. Chateau d’If is a former prison on an island at the entrance to Le Vieux Port in the Bay of Marseille. Open )* 2nd January to 1st April: from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. 1. • The Château d'If is famous for being one of the settings of Alexandre Dumas' adventure novel The Count of Monte Cristo. The island of If is 1.5 km offshore of the Bay of Marseille, and 3.5 km from Vieux Port. The walls are decorated with fine stucco sculptures and arabesques. Taken by this stretch of the Seine, he chose a plot on the slopes of Port-Marly as the perfect spot to build his new home. Today films and TV series ensure that his classics which include The Man in the Iron Mask and The Count of Monte Cristo (set on the Ile d'If just off Marseille) are familiar to a whole new generation. I observed that while Dumas tries to create a feeling of horror, he portrays the Château d'If as a rather benevolent prison. The family coat of arms is carved on the pediment, along with Dumas' personal motto: "I love those who love me." The most famous prisoner of the Château d’If was Edmond Dantes – the later count of Monte Cristo. 7 Châteaux You Can See by Train or Bus From Paris, The Best Things to See & Do in Marseille, France, Top 20 Most Popular French Cities for International Visitors, 10 Classic & Recent Books That Transport You Straight to France, 48 Hours in Marseille, France: The Ultimate Itinerary, The Top 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in France, Top 10 Paris Hotels Close to the Eiffel Tower, Enjoy a Day in Marseille and Aix-en-Provence, France's Many Islands Make a Perfect Getaway. “Bad weather!” observed one of … Dumas’ reputation as a literary giant suffered a roller coaster as fashions changed and it wasn’t until the late 20th century that his reputation was re-established. Date of experience: March 2019 Ask John Dan K about Chateau d'If 2nd April to 30th September: from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. 2. It became famous as a result of the publication of a book by the French writer Alexandre Dumas called "The Count of Monte Cristo". His rather romantic vision was for a Renaissance château with the smaller red-brick Le Château d’If as his workspace, an English-style park and plenty of grottoes, rockeries, and small waterfalls. “I had a chance to read Monte Christo in prison once, too, but not to the end. The writer stamped his creative soul on the building; its facades are carved with titles of his works, and decorated with sculptures of some of his fictional heroes. It is the tale of a man who spent 14 years imprisoned on the island before finally making a daring escape. She lives part-time in Auvergne, France and writes travel articles about the country. But the most famous prisoner here was undoubtedly Edmond Dantès, the protagonist of Dumas' novel The Count of Monte Cristo. It was the home of the famous French writer, Alexandre Dumas, père. The dream included a renaissance chateau standing close by a gothic castle in miniature, complete with its own small moat. Making my way through the gardens ‘à l’Anglaise’, past grottoes, rockeries, waterfalls and pools, I found myself in front of Le Château d’If, an exquisite miniature storybook castle. After that Dumas lived a peripatetic existence in Belgium, Russia, and Italy. They were crafted by Tunisian artisans in the service the Bey of Tunis, commissioned and brought here by Dumas after one of his voyages.

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