CHIRAC and the acquisition of Château de Bity. 1969

Jacques Chirac (1932-)

Important set of correspondence between Jacques Chirac and René Ballarin, former owner of the Château de Bity retracing the negotiations, then the purchase of the Château de Bity by the Chirac couple in 1969.

The set consists of:

– Four autograph letters signed by Jacques Chirac in Ballarin. Three letters in 4° format on letterhead from the Secretariat of the Economy and Finance (autograph envelopes for each) and one letter in 8° format. That’s seven handwritten pages in total.

– A letter signed from Jacques Chirac to Ballarin dated October 2, 1969.

– An autograph card from Chirac to Ballarin.

– Three telegrams from Chirac to Ballarin.

– Around ten autograph letters signed from Ballarin to Chirac.

– Eight silver photographs representing views of the Château.

– An original drawing representing the main facade of the castle.

– A copy of the Deed of Sale signed in March 1969.

– Various plans, drawings and documents extra.

“I continued to look around the properties available in Haute Corrèze, not to look for something else since we are in discussions, but to ensure prices. Indeed, if I do not want to pay more than the prices normally charged, I also do not want to be accused of having gotten a “bargain”. This overview, which made me discover a certain number of properties which I did not know could be for sale, confirmed to me the very reasonable nature of my proposal, and I do not think, very seriously, that, barring an extraordinary stroke of luck, you can find better . »

On January 31, 1969, Ballarin gave his agreement to Chirac:

“I have the advantage for you and the regret for myself of confirming to you that I am selling Bity to you for the price you offered me. »

On February 4, Chirac in Ballarin:

“ I am indeed happy that we can reach an agreement on this transaction. I therefore asked Maitre Cogneras, notary in Meymac, to please prepare the elements of the sale on my behalf and he will contact you. »

Bity Castle, located in Sarrans in Corrèze, 10 kilometers east of Tulle, is the property of Mr. and Mrs. Jacques Chirac.

Leon Trotsky would have stayed there, according to a persistent rumor, from July 1933 to June 1935, hosted by a former colonel of the British army, member of Her Gracious Majesty's secret services and archaeologist, William-Noël Lucas-Shadwelll who there was the owner at the time.

The Bity castle was bought on March 3, 1969 by the Chirac couple. It was the choice of Bernadette Chirac and her father Jean-Louis Chodron de Courcel after months of research and despite Jacques Chirac's lack of enthusiasm for this aristocratic residence. The latter, then Secretary of State in the Couve de Murville government, had it classified as a Historic Monument by decree of April 3, 1969, which subsequently made it possible to restore it while benefiting from public aid from the State. On this subject, Georges Pompidou said to Chirac: “When you claim to be in politics, you manage not to have a castle, unless it has been in the family since at least Louis XV. »