Stéphane Bern, the Mr. History of France 2, said Monday, August 26 in the columns of Télé Loisirs to be ruined and in debt for 25 years. And for good reason, the host had to pay not less than 300 000 € to be able to afford the royal and military college Thiron-Gardais (Eure-et-Loir) ... not to mention the 4 million euros needed to restore it .
The love of old stones has a cost and Stéphane Bern has paid the price. The animator at the helm of Secrets d'histoire and the favorite village of the French had to pay not less than 300 000 € for the purchase and 4 million euros for the restoration of his royal and military college of Thiron-Gardais (Eure -et-Loir).
A significant sum that ruined the animator. But no matter, Stéphane Bern is "proud! Proud to have saved this place of history, proud to visit, " he told our colleagues at Télé Loisirs .
"His restoration has become the adventure of my life"
It is in 2012 that Stéphane Bern acquires the royal and military college of Thiron-Gardais, building whose construction was impelled in 1629 by Henri de Bourbon-Verneuil, natural son of Henry IV. "One day, people from the Perche showed me the old royal college of the seventeenth century in Thiron-Gardais which was falling into ruin. I fell in love with him and his restoration became the adventure of my life, "he explains.
Since, to ensure its restoration, the history buff with a large H, had to mortgage his apartment and borrow over more than 25 years. "I refused the grants, except for the small museum," he says.
Thus, by his own admission, Stéphane Bern's television and advertising revenues are largely used to finance the work. "Of course, the money I earn is used for the restoration of Thiron-Gardais. I have no other taste of luxury " and the host concludes: " If I am very objective with myself, I am ruined, but proud! » .
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Stéphane Bern says he is ruined and in debt by the restoration of his royal collegeOuest-France.frENLARGE