Château du Verduron

Did Louis XIV really gift his head valet a château? This question lingers in the air at Château du Verduron, also known as Château des Sphinx. This elegant château stands in Marly-le-Roi, a town steeped in royal history. Château du Verduron’s story intertwines with the life of Louis Blouin, head valet to the Sun King himself. Blouin served Louis XIV from 1704 to 1715. The story goes that he was gifted this very property. However, documents suggest Blouin only acquired Château du Verduron after 1726, after Louis XIV’s death. Perhaps the king promised it, and Blouin later fulfilled that promise. The truth remains shrouded in the mists of time. Regardless, Blouin’s influence shaped Château du Verduron. He was known for his refined taste, hosting gatherings of prominent figures like Racine and Boileau. After Blouin, Château du Verduron passed through many hands. The Comtesse de Feuquières, Blouin’s mistress, resided here until 1742. Later, Victorien Sardou, the famous playwright and one-time mayor of Marly-le-Roi, made Château du Verduron his own. He added the monumental gate and the “Allée des Sphinx,” the avenue lined with ten granite sphinxes. These sphinxes, acquired from the 1867 Exposition Universelle, give the château its alternate name. Today, Château du Verduron stands as a testament to its rich and layered past. It whispers stories of royal favors, artistic gatherings, and dramatic transformations. Each owner left their mark, contributing to the captivating enigma that is Château du Verduron.