Urban exploration - The Devitalization Manor

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

Here is the urbex visit of an abandoned manor located on the outskirts of a quiet little town. This building is steeped in an extremely sordid history, which we will recount in some detail. This place is also known as the "Manoir Dévitalisation" (Devitalization Manor) or the "Dentist's Manor."

When we set off early this morning, the countryside was still drowned in darkness; disgusting mists drifted across the roads. At this moment, as dawn breaks over the surrounding countryside, the landscapes are of a dantesque gloom, and people bear suicidal expressions. Welcome to this livid environment in the deep hollow of winter.

Entering the manor is very easy—probably too easy, in fact. Indeed, while it was a bright place, lush with furniture until recently, today—and in less than a year—the building has been savagely looted. It has reached such a point that we both wondered if it was a judicial liquidation, specifically whether "Georges" had a mortgage. Indeed, mahogany furniture was taken, which might seem inconsistent given the difficulty of moving such objects; it should be noted that a very present and watchful neighborhood is immediately adjacent.

The manor was purchased in 2014 by "Georges" (a pseudonym) from a couple from Nice. He was a dental surgeon and worked about 45 minutes from his home. Opinions frequently diverge regarding the quality of his care; it is assumed that his diploma was a forgery—at least, that is what the press claims. We saw it, and it looks genuine. This person came from Argentina, held Italian nationality, and had settled in France relatively recently. So, what is the truth? We will obviously never know.

This individual had affinities for fleeting homosexual encounters arranged via online dating sites. It turns out that his practices could be described as "savage," if we are to believe what is reported in the press. The last encounter was the height of the sordid. Indeed, Georges met a young man who had already scripted the entire future narrative in his head.

Georges was brutally murdered, wrapped in various items such as sheets, pillows, and tarpaulins. The whole thing was tightly bound with electrical cables. We do not know how he was killed. The murderer claims it was a "game gone wrong." On the other hand, certain rapid actions prove quite the opposite.

In record time, the car was sold, quotes were sought to install an alarm in the manor, and contacts were made with local antique dealers to liquidate the furniture. The murderer described the place in text messages as his future "home."

Georges failed to show up at his practice, which was completely out of character; his colleagues immediately questioned his absence. Regarding these facts, press reports differ. Some mention relatives going to the manor; the vast majority of other articles state that the Gendarmerie entered the manor and discovered everything immediately.

Based on phone records, the murderer was quickly apprehended and imprisoned. After a four-year investigation, the trial took place, and the alleged murderer was sentenced to 25 years in prison. He remains behind bars to this day.

The most surprising part of this story was how quickly the judicial seals were broken by the urbex community or by thieves. In any case, the photos seen on the internet are surprisingly early; just two years after the murder, the first visits were already taking place. The manor was splendid. Today, only the corpse of this chateau remains. Nevertheless, we are happy to have been able to make this short visit without disturbing either the ducks or the neighbors.