Le Figaro Nice
At the top of the green hill of Saint-Jeannet, near Nice (Alpes-Maritimes), an excavator is busy.
Slowly but surely, the machine eats up a gallery, of around 200 square meters, located at the foot of the superb medieval castle of Saint-Jeannet, also called Château de la Gaude.
In a few weeks, there will be nothing left.
A heresy?
Not really, since this outbuilding was only built in the early 2000s, at the request of the last owner of the premises.
Jonce Acevski, a 76-year-old English citizen, who did everything to prevent this demolition company.
By March 15, the demolition is expected to be completed.
The note, estimated at 140,000 euros, will be sent directly to the owner.
Prefecture of Alpes-Maritimes
And for good reason, it has been more than fifteen years since justice demanded the destruction and restoration of several sites on the estate, for violations of the town planning code noted by state services.
After the purchase of the castle in 2003 from the daughter of actress Viviane Romance (who had acquired and attempted to renovate the property for the first time in 1964), Jonce Acevski in turn began major work.
The construction of the gallery already mentioned but also the rehabilitation of a 150 square meter caretaker's house, all without a building permit.
At the beginning of January 2009, the Grasse criminal court awarded the Briton a fine of 5 million euros.
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A first demolition in 2017
Conviction immediately contested by the person concerned.
Two years later, the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal confirmed the first instance judgment and ordered the recent works to be demolished.
Same result for the 7th criminal chamber of the Court of Cassation.
Appeal after appeal, Jonce Acevski still managed to escape the sentence until June 2017. Date on which, due to lack of intervention, the State took the place of the owner to regularize the situation.
First, it was the guard's house that was demolished
manu militari
.
And seven years later, the large gallery, living area for the castle workers, catering area also during major events organized on site.
“The prevention strategy never pays
,” observes Mathieu Eyrard, deputy director of the Departmental Directorate of Territories and the Sea (DDTM).
“We do not contest the appeals, but the State enforces the law, nothing could be more normal
,” he adds.
By March 15, the demolition is expected to be completed.
The note, for an amount estimated at 140,000 euros, will be sent directly to the owner.
“Everything is at one’s expense and risk
,” specifies the deputy director of the DDTM.
Given the location of the constructions, on sloping ground, the State had to enlist the services of a geotechnical design office to ensure that the demolition presented no risk and, above all, that it would not damage the rest of the frame.
“It’s a heavy and rather rare operation.
We cannot take any technical and legal risks
,” adds Mathieu Eyrard.
The first medieval stones are estimated to have been laid in the 11th century.
The castle was then rebuilt several times, left abandoned and then renovated.
Nicolas Daguin / Le Figaro
Jewel of Saint-Jeannet, the castle of the same name, whose first medieval stones are estimated to have been laid in the 11th century, today has a dual use.
One part constitutes the home of its owner while a second is a luxury residence intended to host events of all kinds, including weddings.
In addition to the 13 suites available, there is also an infinity pool, a sauna and even a helipad.
A place which, according to
Var Matin
, has attracted several renowned celebrities in the past, such as Madonna or Naomi Campbell.