Behind his office at the Hôtel de Ville, Jean-Marie Iputcha, the mayor of Espelette is all smiles. This is nothing compared to that which displays, a few kilometers away, Jérôme Zapata. This guide speaker from Saint-Jean-de-Luz has just heard the happy news: the tomb of Agnès Souret is going to be renovated. The village of Piment, Cardinal Etchegaray and the first Miss France has just voted, during its last municipal council, the rehabilitation of the art deco monument, classified as historical monuments.
A tragic double fate
“With my fellow guides, we can’t wait! Ignites Jérôme Zapata. When the monument has been restored, we will have a very, very nice surprise, we will measure how much of a gem it is that we have in this village of Espelette.” Like his fellow guides, he regularly brings groups to stroll through the streets of the village, lined with magnificent Basque houses, to visit the permanent exhibition dedicated to Agnès Souret in the Town Hall and in front of the tomb of the first “most beautiful woman in France”elected in 1920 at the age of 18.
– Muriel Vitel
Except that this last part of the visit leaves its listeners skeptical: “It’s true that we had mixed reactions, there were people who were a little disappointed.” And also incredulous. Many people ask him why nothing is being done to save this monument, which is both historic and of great heritage value, which falls into disrepair. A real work of art deco, in which some big names from the 1920s participated, such as the Bayonne architect Benjamin Gomez; Agnès Souret’s mother also devoted a very large part of her modest fortune to this tomb, after repatriating at great expense the body of her only daughter, who died in Argentina at only 26 years old.
“We did not expect it”
The town hall of Espelette has the idea of renovating the tomb. But the project is postponed, relegated by other priorities which are imposed on the budget of the small town, recognizes its mayor. So, to give a boost, Jérôme Zapata and his colleagues decided to launch a petition for the renovation of the tomb that they send to the Miss France Committee. From there, the story gets carried away, testifies the tour guide: “It’s very quickly hundreds of signatures. We are contacted by different newspapers, radio stations. We even have Sylvie Tellier, president of the Miss France Committee, who is interested in it. We did not expect it.”
The Heritage Foundation is also mobilizing. Many donors come forward, in particular through a kitty launched on the internet. Even the TV host Stéphane Bern would have promised his share, understands the mayor of Espelette. A surge of solidarity which allows the municipality of the village to finally be able to tackle the file. The estimates have been validated, the Bâtiments de France have given their green light and the budget has now been voted. Work should begin before the end of the year. They amount to nearly 10,000 euros, but the small town of Espelette will only have 20% of the sum to pay, thanks to donations.
“It’s like a happy ending with the restoration of this tomb” concludes Jérôme Zapata. “Beyond the restoration of a pure art deco jewel in the Basque Country, this will allow us to speak in a beautiful way of this Miss.”