Is there a French National Trust?
There are bodies that have some similarities to aspects of the National Trust's work in the UK
FRANCE does not have anything quite like it, which may explain why, although the National Trust has reciprocal visiting arrangements with bodies in 13 countries, it has none in France.
However there are bodies that have some similarities to aspects of its work, said Jean-Louis Marques, delegate for the Alpes-Maritimes, for the Fondation du Patrimoine.
This foundation, which is part state and part privately-funded by companies, was set up by parliament in 1996 and was explicitly inspired by the National Trust.
It is meant to help preserve France’s heritage.
However so far it has not evolved into a landholding body like the trust but instead helps people restore important buildings that they own.
For example, they help private owners to gain a special tax status so they can deduct restoration costs, and they supply matching grants to local authorities who intend to pay for restoration work.
To benefit, public bodies must regularly open their buildings to the public and private properties must at least be visible from the road.
Apart from the foundation, other bodies doing aspects of National Trust work include the Conservatoire du Littoral – a public body that buys coastline to protect it – and the Institut de France.
The latter is a society grouping several academies, including the Académie Française, which, through different foundations, owns and maintains a lot of historic property that have been donated or willed to it.
Many of its buildings eg. the Château de Chantilly (Oise) or the Villa Kerylos (Alpes-Maritimes) are open to the public.
