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Even With Money Available for the Complete Restoration of the Castle, the 80-Year-Old Owner Refuses to Allow Work and Keeps the Place Closed While the 18th Century Historic Structure Continues to Collapse.
A very strange case is attracting the attention of the French. In 2016, a fire almost completely destroyed a beautiful 18th century castle. Due to its status as a historical building, a significant effort was made to restore it, but so far it has not been successful.
Since the Castle of Magny-en-Bessin is a heritage site of the region, the government gathered a considerable sum for the renovation, around € 750,000, or about R$ 4 million.
The problem is that the property is private – that is, if the owner does not want to restore it, there is nothing that can be done.
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The owner of the castle, who hoped to turn the property into a contemporary art foundation after her husband’s death, refuses any renovations and prohibits entry to the property, both from the public and volunteers who wish to participate in its reconstruction.
The History of the Site
The 18th century building, which was once an architectural pride of the region, is now falling apart. “The floors have collapsed in five places, and the Louis XV staircase also fell in January 2020,” laments Hervé Baptiste, president of the association created to try to save the castle.
The retired architect of historical monuments watches the collapse without being able to act. Despite the property being selected twice for restoration, nothing has progressed.
“The owner, who is 80 years old, has cut off all contact. She refuses to allow any work. She has become uncontactable: no internet, no phone, and does not read her correspondence,” he explains.
French castle of classic style
From Artistic Hope to Complete Stagnation
The trajectory of the castle is marked by twists and turns. Built in 1718 by the second Marquis of Magny, the property was bought in 1989 by two Dutch individuals.
The site had spent about fifty years functioning as a linen mill.
The new owner, an artist, passed away in 2011, leaving the castle to his wife, who dreamed of turning it into the headquarters of a contemporary art foundation.
“She still has that hope, but has never invested a single cent,” states Mayor André Blet.
“The castle is not even insured.” Hervé Baptiste adds: “Since the purchase, the Dutch have done nothing to restore it. The workshops of the old factory are still found as if everything had stopped yesterday.”
The couple lived in one wing of the castle under humble conditions, without running water or electricity for several years.
Repeated Promises and Failures
A fire in 2016 destroyed part of the building, reigniting hopes for recovery. Two years later, the government prepared a project allocating € 24,000, with the state supplementing the amount, totaling € 60,000.
The preservation association mobilized, installed a temporary roof, tried to repair beams, and closed up holes. In 2019, the castle was even opened to the public.
The mayor recalls the excitement of that time: “There were quite a few people. The lady even offered drinks. There was talk of organizing a neighborhood party and an Easter egg hunt there.”
In 2021, there was new good news: the government selected the project again and granted the maximum possible funding, with total subsidies of around € 750,000. The plan aimed to make the castle waterproof and hermetic, ensuring its future preservation.
But the reimbursement system depended on the actual execution of the works. Without work, there is no payment. And time passed without anything being done.
The owner, becoming increasingly reserved, began to reject the projects. “The last time I saw her was in 2022. After that, she sent letters saying she refused the work, without clearly justifying, only stating that she wanted to transform the castle into a work of art,” reports Hervé Baptiste.
A Stalemate Between Idealism and Abandonment
For Mayor André Blet, the owner’s fear is of losing control of the property. “She is afraid of losing her position, while the association is only made up of stone enthusiasts.”
The irony is that these volunteers plan, precisely, to create a contemporary art foundation to revitalize the site – the same dream declared by the owner.
Today, the situation remains completely paralyzed. From the road, the castle still impresses with its grandeur, but a closer look reveals its decadence.
The Risk of Complete Disappearance
“In 10 or 15 years, it will be a pile of rubble,” warns the mayor. “Without the concrete slab built by the old factory, it would have collapsed already.”
However, there is not much that can be done. The building is not classified, only registered in the supplementary inventory of historical monuments, which prevents coercive actions. There is no direct risk to the public, so no demolition can be imposed.
Furthermore, it is private property. Attempts to purchase have already occurred, including by descendants of former owners, but all were thwarted.
“There were purchase offers with restoration plans, but the lady always disappointed the interested parties,” comments the mayor. In the village, someone sometimes still sees the Dutch woman riding her bicycle, but any attempt to make contact is futile.
Today, hope is minimal. The mayor only wishes for access to the castle park to fix a small public bridge that runs along the property.
Even this request faces resistance. Thus, the Castle of Magny-en-Bessin, which once housed nobility and inspired artists, seems doomed to a silent and inevitable end – the physical and symbolic collapse of a forgotten heritage.
Se o Lula se interessar pela reforma, 750 mil euros não vão ser suficientes, pois esse valor vai todo para o PT e para as propinas.
**** mesmo. Não lê jornais e notícias? Parece a velha ****, não vê que foi manipulação. Onde está o dinheiro que o Lula roubou? Foi para o seu bolso?
Manipulação? Ele foi inocentado? Onde está esta decisão ? Quem não se informa é você. Ele é um **** , só foi inocentado por causa dos seus amigos indicados no STF. E o pior , está roubando agora mais que nunca pela certeza da impunidade.
Verdade
Chama o MST que eles dão um jeito rapidinho kkkkkk
Ela deve ser teimosa **** nao queirer ajudas para restaurar reformar um castelo de milhoes herdeira heranca deve ter manias de grandezas egoista egocentrica sem nocao de valores do patrimonios castelo deve colocar ela numa outra casa simples para ela morar e reformar o castelo antes que ele caia ou virar ruinas com esta **** maluca caduca sem nocao de valor exibida metida este castelo ja deverias ter sido reformado a anos o patrimonios castelo
O medo dela é real. O acesso e a reforma devem ser permitidos, sem que se menospreze o verdadeiro dono da propriedade. Mesmo que a verba para a reforma seja pública, a propriedade continuará sendo particular. Que isto fique bem claro.
sim. ela é teimosa e louca. O castelo vai acabar desmoronando por cima dela e esse vai ser o castigo por ela ser tão louca e cabeça dura…