Castle of Real-Life Inspiration for D'artagnan Subject of Fierce Local Dispute

The castle of Charles de Batz de Castelmore, the real-life inspiration for Alexander Dumas' character of D'artagnan in The Three Musketeers, is the subject of a fierce dispute over its future, with locals seeking to make into a public museum and a CEO bidding on the property wanting to make it into a second home, according to reporting by Le Figaro and AFP.

According to their reporting, several efforts by local and national politicians to raise awareness or bid on the building have been rebuffed by the owner, who wanted more and who is interested in the offer of a retail giant who wishes to make it a second home.

Dumas' story continues to attract French interest, as a new film version and a sequel, Milady, attracted millions of French moviegoers to the theaters.

A final decision regarding the fate of the property may be rendered by as early as next week.