In Colombey, a battle over the sale of General de Gaulle's house

A dispute has erupted over the potential sale of the former home of General Charles de Gaulle in Colombey-les-Two-Eglises, Haute-Marne, France. The property, known as La Boisserie, has been the subject of negotiations regarding its possible purchase by either the French state or the department. However, one of the general's grandchildren has recently reignited the controversy by publicly opposing this scenario. Pierre de Gaulle, one of the four grandsons of the founder of Free France during World War II and later President of France, stated on Sunday via social media that the house is family property and should be passed down through generations within his own family. He simultaneously shared a link to an online fundraising campaign aimed at helping him preserve the large rural residence. According to Jean-Jacques Neuer, Pierre de Gaulle’s lawyer, the intention has always been for Pierre to retain ownership of the property rather than sell it. However, he also wants the house to remain open to the public, as it currently is, and to be managed “in collaboration” with the state and the department. This stance contrasts sharply with that of the other heirs. In May, Pierre’s brother Yves de Gaulle, who holds 25 percent of the estate along with their other brother Jean, expressed support for the department purchasing the property. He argued that La Boisserie had functioned as a museum for more than forty years and belonged to all French citizens. Nicolas Lacroix, president of the Haute-Marne department, which has managed the site since October after the departure of the Charles de Gaulle Foundation, confirmed that both the state and the department have shown interest in acquiring the property. Lacroix noted that the department has requested an estimate of the purchase price and plans to submit an offer by September. However, he admitted uncertainty regarding the latest intentions of the state. The situation has become even more complex with the initiation of a procedure to classify La Boisserie as a historical monument by the state at the end of 2025. This move was met with opposition from Pierre, Yves, and Jean de Gaulle. In response to their refusal, the Ministry of Culture announced in late June that it was preparing a petition to the Council of State to obtain a decree for official classification. La Boisserie, purchased in 1934 by Charles de Gaulle and his wife Yvonne, is the place where the general died in 1970. It attracts between 35,000 and 40,000 visitors annually. The conflict highlights the tension between preserving a national heritage site and maintaining family legacy. While the state seeks to ensure the property's preservation and accessibility to the public, the de Gaulle family members hold divergent views on its future. The resolution of this issue will depend on reaching a consensus among the family before any formal offers can be made. The department has indicated that once the family reaches an agreement, they will proceed accordingly. Meanwhile, the process of classifying La Boisserie as a historical monument continues, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing discussions. The final decision on the property's fate remains uncertain, pending further developments in these overlapping legal and familial disputes.