A FRENCHMAN who inherited a big house from a dead relative got more than he bargained for when he discovered a glittering treasure trove of gold coins and bars worth millions stashed around the place.
Squirrelled away in hiding places throughout the house, he came across thousands of gold coins and bars weighing 100 kilos in total.
There were 5000 gold pieces, two bars of 12 kilos and 37 ingots of 1 kilo, Nicolas Fierfort, a local auctioneer, told AFP, confirming a report in the local La Depeche newspaper.
Fierfort, who had visited the house to value furniture offered for sale by the new owner, said the loot, which was worth 3.5 million euros ($5 million), was extremely well hidden. It was under the furniture, under piles of linen, in the bathroom ... everywhere, he said, admitting that he himself had overlooked the gold on his visit.
