France has an extraordinary heritage that is the envy of the world. Too expensive to maintain and no longer profitable, some of these assets are now being sold off. Since 2007, the number of state-owned properties put up for sale has risen exponentially, not only to enable the renovation of many public buildings that are currently in use, but also to help reduce the country's debt. As well as mansions and châteaux, which often attract prestigious clients, the French state is selling barracks, churches, land and even former prisons. Some private individuals, in love with their heritage, are taking up the challenge of giving these sites a second life.