Man leaves €10m to Normandy village just because of its name
Roger Thiberville is not thought to have ever visited Thiberville. ‘It is a lovely surprise just before Christmas’ said the mairie
The mairie described it as a lovely surprise just before Christmas
Mairie de Thiberville
A man has given over €10 million to a village in Normandy although it is not known that he had ever visited or had any connection to it - except for sharing a name.
Roger Thiberville did not have any heirs so he decided to bequeath part of his fortune to his accountant and the rest to Thiberville, a village of just 1,800 residents in the Eure.
The mairie of Thiberville confirmed the good news to The Connexion and stated “it is a lovely surprise just before Christmas”.
Read more: Who gets a free Christmas parcel from the mairie in France?
Paris flats
Guy Paris, the maire of Thiberville, was first notified of the donation back in August when he received a call from a notaire however the exact sum was only confirmed in the last few days.
Not much is known about Roger Thiberville. He was a weather engineer who lived in a small flat in Paris and led a discreet life, according to Actu. He came from a family of winemakers and inherited from both his parents and his sister, who also died without an heir.
He died on August 23 this year aged 91. The bulk of the donation came from four Paris flats that he owned.
He is not known to have ever set foot in Thiberville.
Plans for the money
The commune will not pay any inheritance tax on the €10 million as it is a public collectivity and therefore there is not a requirement to according to the tax code.
Read more: Taxes, forced heirship and property ownership: Understanding French succession law
The money, which is five times Thiberville’s yearly budget, will be used to pay off debts.
“It could also help us to complete projects such as an artificial football pitch, a new fire station, renovation of the public garden, introducing a France services centre, etc.” Mr Paris told Actu.
There are plans to install a headstone in Mr Thiberville’s honour in the Thiberville cemetery and, as per his last wishes, spread his ashes there. The headstone will bear a sun and clouds in reference to his career as a weather engineer.
“Mr Thiberville did not ask for anything in return for his bequeathment but we owe him that at least,” said Mr Paris.
Leaving a legacy to communes in wills is not a rare occurrence although one of this level is almost unheard of. It is only the third bequeathment of such value in France’s history.
