100 Year Old Town House Finally Opened Up

A century ago the 19th century town house, belonging to Louis Mantin, was donated to the council of the central French town of Moulins.

Mantin had no children to take over his estate, being a rich bachelor gentleman of leisure.

The local authorities funded a 3.5m Euro refit, which has returned the mansion to its original beauty. After Mantin died, in 1905, the home was shut up and had fallen into disrepair.

Mantin was born in Moulins in 1851, had an unmemorable career as a civil servant and at the age of forty-two inherited a fortune from his father. He then dedicated his life to the arts, pleasure and science.

He had his townhouse built in the heart of Moulins on the spot of a former Bourbon palace. The dukes had been local rulers who were heirs to the French and Spanish royal houses.

Mantin established his personal museum of Egyptian relics, Neolithic oil-lamps, prehistoric flints and medieval locks and keys on the top floor. He decorated the mansion with paintings, imported tapestries and porcelain. He commissioned sculptures and wood-carvings.

The townhouse had modern bathrooms, plus electricity.

"In the will, he said that he wanted the people of Moulins in 100 years time to be able to see what was the life of a cultured gentleman of his day," said Maud Leyoudec, assistant curator. "It was his way of becoming eternal."

Mantin left instructions in his will that in one hundred years time the townhouse should be turned into a museum. He said nothing about what should occur in the meantime.

Isabelle de Chavagnac, one of Mantin's last known descendants, was a key person in getting the house re-opened. Under the will, the house would have reverted to her had it not been converted into a museum once the century had passed.

Instead of desiring to take the possession of the house, she wanted Mantin's wishes to be fulfilled.

By threatening to use her right in law to reclaim the townhouse, she obligated the local council to act. They managed to raise the money to repair the house and the museum opened at the end of 2010. It was five years late, but the council believes it will become one of their major tourist attractions.