They have long formed an emblematic duo… Both 72 years old, Grichka and Igor Bogdanoff respectively lost their lives on December 28, 2021 and January 3, 2022. If those around them – for a time – refused to reveal the causes of their death, the lawyer for the two animators however confirmed to “RTL” that they had died of the consequences of the Covid-19.
In the media and on the Web, many stars and anonymous people constantly salute their memory. But this Friday, April 7, 2023, our colleagues from Parisian took a close interest in their heritage. The opportunity for them to highlight the degradation of one of their former strongholds. Being owners of many residences in France, Grichka and Igor Bogdanoff were determined to restore their castle located in the Gers (Esclignac in Monfort editor’s note).
This medieval building, acquired by the duo in 1986 for around 280,000 euros, unleashes passions to this day. And for good reason, their house built in 1032 has been in a very sorry state for several years now. Wanting to save the building, Cédric Davant-Lannes, president of the Safeguarding of Gascon Heritage, had then offered 700,000 euros to the two brothers for its rehabilitation… Without success.
According to the latest news, the monument looks more and more like a ruin. “The state of this castle is a disaster! Frankly, they had better sell it because the family never put any money into renovating it”, released an inhabitant of Monfort to “The Parisian”. According to our colleagues, the castle being “the oldest in the department” would be in a state of “advanced decay”.
see also:
“Guardianship is blank”
“Ripped roof, structural beams collapsed in the outbuildings”, they state. While emphasizing that many “windows” were broken. Millions of euros would be needed to restore it to its former glory. Still according to their information, a half-brother of Igor and Grichka Bogdanoff (very discreet) would live within these walls. Moreover, this property would have no less than 11 heirs, the direct descendants of the two men.
Through their lawyer, their offspring would have requested protection for the property from the Ministry of Culture after a liquidation procedure was orchestrated in 2021. To make matters worse, the children of Igor and Grichka Bogdanoff also had to pay property taxes. “This money should not have been claimed because the castle is classified as a historical monument”, annoyed Emmanuel Ludot, the representative of the three children of Igor Bogdanoff.
According to him, his clients would like to preserve this place, but would not have the necessary funds to be able to do so. Distraught, they would have asked for the castle to be placed under state supervision for renovations. In exchange, the house could have been used for countless events. Like other of his fellow citizens, Régis Lagardère, the mayor of Monfort seems totally overwhelmed by the situation: “It would already take 5 to 6 million euros just for the roofs. In forty years, nothing has been done to protect it”.
An opinion shared by Cédric Davant-Lannes, cousin of the Bogdanovs: “The trusteeship is nothing. The only way today to prevent this almost thousand-year-old castle from collapsing is for it to be sold to a lover of old stones who can afford it. “. To be continued…
BN