Posted on 12/05/2012 4:55:07 PM PST by Uncle Chip
Blundering builders mistakenly bulldozed an 18th-century chateau in the heart of France's picturesque wine country - when they were only supposed to knock down an outhouse on its estate.
Chateau de Bellevue, 12km to the east of Bordeaux, once boasted 140,000-square-feet of grand reception rooms, ornate fireplaces, winding marble staircases and imposing granite balconies.
Then its new owner, a Russian millionaire businessman, employed a team of Polish builders to renovate the manor to its former baroque glory, including the removal of one small building.
But the workers apparently misunderstood the instructions and pulled down the castle instead, leaving the outhouse completely untouched.
'The Chateau de Bellevue was Yvrac's pride and joy,' said former owner Juliette Marmie. 'The whole village is in shock. How can this construction firm make such a mistake?'
Local media reported that the construction company misunderstood the renovation plans of the current owner, Russian businessman Dmitry Stroskin, to clean up and renovate the manor.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
LOL
Someone has some explaining to do.
employed a team of Polish builders
Oooops!
“Polish workers,” eh. Maybe there’s something to those jokes. ;)
hehehehehe
You know. Poland. Russia.
Just a guess.
Moeskie, Curlyskie and Joeskie
But they did bulldoze the mansion and saved the outhouse.
Consolation - “we renovate outhouse for freeee”
Saved the outhouse,and promptly sub-leased it’s basement to the Poles.
Russian oligarch? Those builders' lives aren't worth a plugged nickel now.
Mistake? Incredibly valuable salvage there, you know it didn’t go to a landfill, don’t you?
The Russian was walking past the outhouse and saw one of his Polish contractors throwing a 100 Eureo bill down the hole.
“What in the world are you doing?” he asked.
“I dropped a .5 Euro coin down there and I sure as heck am not going down there for half a Euro.”
Having this Polish joke occur was probably the only way he could arrange the demolition. The newly wealthy Poles are probably lounging on the Mediterrean by now. And the Russian can rebuild the house the way he wants.
bingo... my thoughts exactly
It's better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission - the French authorities would probably have objected to full modernization of the lighting, plumbing, etc.
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