Urban Exploration - René's Manor

We received photos from a traveler and compiled them into a historical summary.

This manor was immensely plunged into sadness and distress. To be clear from the start, this is not what led to its abandonment. It is, rather, a context—one that gnawed away at the existence of its two inhabitants.

It is evening when I arrive at the site. I much prefer the very early morning, but my schedule is what it is. When I reach the manor gates, they are simply open. As for the front door? This disconcerting "too-easy" access troubles me and fills me with great fear regarding the future survival of the place.

This was the manor of René and Agnès. René was born in 1927 and passed away in July 2019 at the age of 91. Agnès was born in 1930 and passed away in September 2022 at the age of 92. They had an only son: Jean-Paul.

One morning, while on his way to school, Jean-Paul was walking down the long driveway of the manor. Upon reaching the road, he was struck by a speeding car that failed to avoid him. The child was in critical condition. Emergency services arrived immediately and tried to stabilize him. However, the situation was so dire that he was airlifted to Toulouse. He did not survive his injuries.

Jean-Paul was born in March 1959 and passed away in March 1971, at just 12 years old.

For a long time, the boy’s bedroom remained absolutely untouched. This is what could be found at the manor until quite recently; I knew of it through a friend’s photographs. As of today, the photos have been salvaged, along with gloves and a few objects that belonged to him, as well as portraits of the parents. It appears that the manor has quite simply been partially moved out.

From what I can gather, René was a farmer. I have no precise idea whether the manor is in a state of total abandonment due to a lack of heirs, or if upon Agnès's death, a long probate process began. In any case, the grounds are maintained through a farm lease (bail à ferme). This is a supposition, as I have no documents to prove it, yet it proves to be entirely logical.

It is truly to be hoped that there is a future for this place, as the threats looming over this manor are intense. The family is buried in a gigantic cemetery; without precise information, it’s a needle in a haystack. I tried, but discouraged, I failed.