Château de Monte-Cristo  The Château de Monte-Cristo is a writer's house museum located in the country home of the writer Alexandre Dumas, "père". The château was built in 1846 by the architect Hippolyte Durand in Port-Marly, Yvelines, France. Dumas named it after one of his most successful novels: "The Count of Monte Cristo" ("Le Comte de Monte-Cristo", 1845–1846). Durand also built a writing studio on the grounds, which Dumas named the Château d'If after another setting from the same novel. In 1848, short of money, Dumas had to sell the property. The château fell into disrepair by the 1960s, and it was restored with the patronage of King Hassan II of Morocco, who financed the restoration of its Moorish room. Since 1994, the two châteaux and gardens have been restored. The entire property is operated as a public historic museum memorializing Dumas, père.