The "Diter castle" on the Côte d'Azur will have to be demolished

In March 2019, the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal had already confirmed a decision taken at first instance in Grasse which condemned this owner to demolish his property. In a few years, Patrick Diter had transformed a modest bastide of 200 m2 into a Renaissance-style property of 3.000 m2, estimated by the tax authorities at 57 million euros.

Mr. Diter had built a swimming pool, a helipad and a 600 m2 road marked out, just as illegally, in a classified wooded area.

The demolition of all the work noted in the infringement reports, confirmed today by the Court of Cassation, must take place within 18 months and, after this period, under penalty of 500 euros per day of delay.

"My clients are relieved, they awaited this decision with concern, they are satisfied to see that justice be done", reacted Me Virginie Lachaut-Dana, lawyer for Mr. Diter's neighbors who had become civil parties.

Mr. Philippe Soussi, who defends the interests of Mr. Diter, indicated that he wanted to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.

"This court decision is not the epilogue of this case," he said. "The very idea of ​​the demolition of the Diter castle, which is an architectural masterpiece, is unimaginable and senseless. We will fight to avoid that", he promises.

Me Louis Ribière, other counsel for Mr. Diter, recalls that a procedure before administrative justice is still ongoing. "In July, the Council of State referred to the administrative court the judgment on the fraudulent nature or not of the building permit granted to Mr. Diter", indicates the lawyer.

"The offenses go well beyond the framework of this building permit, this is only one of the elements of the case", underlines for his part the lawyer of Mr. Diter's neighbors.