Leuville Estate to Be Returned to Georgia Friday

LEUVILLE-The historical Leuville Chateau Estate, located around 30 kilometers from Paris, France, is to be officially returned to Georgia on September 23.

The State Ministry of Georgia for Diaspora Issues stated the signing of the final act will be held in Leuville, as a result of which, after 25 years, the estate will be returned to its legal owners - the people of Georgia.

Gela Dumbadze, State Minister for Diaspora Issues, explained that as a result of a resolution adopted in May, the government of Georgia made a decision to spend EUR 5,600,000 over 10 years on the Chateau estate, after it is transferred to Georgia, for further development of the property.

“The historical process will be maintained- the estate will remain as the center of Georgian-French culture. The Government of Georgia also plans to look after the Leuville cemetery, where Georgians are buried,” said Dumbadze.

The five hectare Leuville Estate is important for Georgians as it is the place where the first government of Georgia settled in exile in 1921 after fleeing their home country in the wake of the Soviet military invasion following Georgia’s three-year independence.

Then-chairman of the government, Noe Zhordania, government members and several Georgian families boarded the Ernest Renan ship and sailed to Paris, where they founded the Georgian Association in France. The 30 Georgia emigrants bought an estate in Leuville and settled there but were forced to exist in poor living conditions- living in 15 flats inside the castle and sharing a common lounge. Yet they never lost hope of returning to their homeland.

Prior the final signing ceremony, a summary pre-notarization meeting was held at the Embassy of Georgia to the Republic of France chaired by Gela Dumbadze.

From the Georgian side, the meeting was attended by the Minister of Justice Tea Tsulukiani; Gocha Javakhishvili, Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Republic of France; and Ekaterine Siradze-Delone, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Republic of France. In attendance representing the French side were members of the fellowship “Georgian Home” and Eric Brevi, the Mayor of Leuville.

By Thea Morrison

Photo: The Leuville estate. Source: goodnews.on.ge