What is the incredible story of this legacy that took 10 years to put to use?

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€450,000 has just been spent in November 2024 fors works at Notre-Dame-sur l'Eau in Domfront-en-Poiraie, in Orne. But the funds are not like other funds.

They come from don of an individual. How ? What is the story unusual Who is behind this legacy?

Without direct heirs

To the mort by Jacques Couppel du Lude, at the end of 2008, his entourage discovered in his will that this descendant of the viscounts of Domfront, without direct heirs, had wanted part of his fortune be dedicated to the restoration of the Notre-Dame-sur-l'eau church in Domfront-en-Poiraie.

Barely saved

“My uncle, Wilfrid de Virieu, was in charge of the succession,” indicates Cécilia de Montalembert (Editor’s note: also owner of the Château de Lassay with her husband Aymeri de Montalembert).

Being geographically closer, and due to the experience we have acquired in Lassay, I was able to relay with the town hall of Domfront from 2020 for the follow-up of this file, when it was taken over by the municipality.

Family connection

“In addition to the family bond, this monument narrowly saved by Mérimée when it had already been amputated for the passage of a road, was in the eyes of Jacques Couppel du Lude a symbol of the fundamental importance of heritage protection”.

The legacy of 450 000 € in favor of the town hall was accompanied by certain constraints, including the reclamation of the tombs of the Couppel du Lude at Notre-Dame sur l'Eau, as well as that of State participation in financing the work on this public monument.

Relaunch in 2020

And first project restoration project was launched in 2014, but was unable to come to fruition due to administrative difficulties encountered by the City.

Fortunately, things are starting to move again in 2020. “Nathalie Legrand, new General Director of Services at Domfront, who arrived in 2019, is taking over the file,” remember Cécilia de Montalembert and Wilfrid de Virieu.

It is following this, after finalisation new necessary administrative steps and other imponderable delays, which the works were able to begin at the beginning of 2024, i.e. 10 years later.

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