new parcels put up for sale by the municipality. However, the park and structures were profoundly altered in the process. The next round of modifications was initiated by Victorien Sardou. He undertook some expansion and restoration work in the house, but devoted himself primarily to the park. He is to be credited for the new entrance with its monumental gate and the garden walk known as the “Allée des Sphinx” that gave the property its name of ”Château des Sphinx.” The impressive metal gate was given to Victorien Sardou by the Comédie Française; it is a copy of the one in front of the Orangerie in Versailles. The ten granite sphinxes that line the allée leading from the gate to the house were purchased by Sardou from the Sultan's Pavilion in the 1867 Exposition Universelle. He also built a new Orangerie at the southwestern edge of the property. Mir once again modified the château's appearance by constructing a new entrance rotunda surmounted by a dome on the secondary façade. This rotunda and dome are prominent features in the current appearance of the Château du Verduron. SCI Le Verduron undertook a major campaign to restore the château, under the direction of the architect André Contenay. During the 1970s, the château had been completely renovated by the insurance company AXA, which then occupied the premises. As was standard practice at the time, this work was carried out at the expense of authentic decorative elements that still existed at that time. Sculpted panels, cornices, and other moldings were eliminated in favor of more contemporary décor. Between 1999 and 2001, COGEMAD, under the direction of Emad Khashoggi, was commissioned to carry out a complete restoration of the Château du Verduron. The building recovered its former appearance, reflecting the principles of seventeenth century architecture. That era's noble materials have been restored, and the building now boasts marbles, gilding, sculpted wood paneling, parquet floors in the manner of Versailles, and fine masonry work. References Bibliography Marly-le-Roi", Camille Piton, 1894 Marly-le-Roi et son histoire (697-1904), Camille Piton, 1904 Victorien Sardou, collectionneur, in Le Temps, R. Aubry, April 10, 1909 En marge de Marly, le Verduron, Le Figaro artistique, H. Soulange-Bodin, December 4, 1925 La vie prodigieuse de Victorien Sardou (1831-1908), Georges Mouly, based on unpublished documents, 1931 Les papiers de Victorien Sardou, Georges Mouly, 1934 Château du Verduron ou de Verduron, in Bulletin Officiel Municipal de Marly-le-Roi,