It’s a crazy adventure that Stephan Bern has embarked on. In 2013, the greatest figure in French heritage began a major project: the restoration of the Royal and Military College of Thiron-Gardais.
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In February 2013, Stéphane Bern bought the former Royal and Military College of Thiron-Gardais, a monument classified as French heritage but… in poor condition. He tells us the story of this extraordinary renovation in the documentary broadcast on France 3 (see end of article), which completely changed his life.
The Royal and Military College of Thiron-Gardais renovated by Stéphane Bern.
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© FTV
It was Albéric de Montgolfier, the President of the department of Eure-et-Loir, who convinced Stéphane Bern to bring this monument and its forgotten history back to life. He says, “it was a morning in December 2012, it was gray, it was sad… All the shutters were falling apart, the weeds had climbed everywhere, the stones were damaged all over the house. We could have filmed there The Birds by Hitchcock. He says he had a revelation about this place, even if he admits not having measured the scale of the work.
The producer of the show Secrets d’Histoires, Stéphane Bern and Albéric de Montgolfier.
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© FTV
For the record, the place is first known for its Abbey of the Holy Trinity of Thiron, created in 1114, it will experience greater influence and development over the centuries. Later, in the 1630s, Henri de Bourbon-Verneuil, natural son of the King of France Henri IV, created a classical education college which in 1776 became a Royal and Military College thanks to Louis XVI.
Work began in November 2014. For two years, workers worked every day to make the college a habitable space again. Years during which around seventy people were involved in renovating this almost identical place.
I didn’t want anything new, so obviously it was more expensive. The bankers started calling me saying: ‘We’re not going to be able to follow you.’
Between the fungus, the mold and the dilapidation of the building, there were many things to rebuild and change. The framework, for example, had to be reoriented and completely restored. It was a medieval frame in the shape of an overturned boat: for Stéphane, we couldn’t change that. He therefore decided to restore it entirely on site:
“Keep as many things as possible, don’t throw away, heritage is sustainable development, we don’t change, it can be preserved. »
The framework in the shape of an overturned boat hull of the former royal and military college of Thiron-Gardais.
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© FTV
A history lover since a very young age, with this restoration, he wanted to give others the chance he had, to discover the heritage of this place which has known several lives. Who has spanned the ages and emblematic figures of French history.
Stéphane Bern has changed his life, he now lives permanently in the college. He tells us that nothing was planned, but that he really fell in love with it. His companion shares this feeling, because he does not regret leaving Paris and adds: “We are super happy here, and the longer I live here with Stéphane, the more it is osmosis.”
Stéphane Bern and his companion Yori Bailleres in the gardens.
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© FTV
A museum opened its doors in 2016 to tell the history of these places and other events are organized throughout the year. The garden festival brings together once a year with exhibitions, workshops and activities, for example. Guided tours are also organized during the summer period.
Discover the new life of Stéphane Bern at the Royal and Military College of Thiron-Gardais ► it can be discovered this Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 10:50 p.m. on France 3, or now on the France.tv platform
