France sells cultural heritage to pay for social programs

From the FT today.

The city of Dijon has just sold off half of its prized municipal wine cellar to fund local social spending – including a bottle 1999 burgundy knocked down at auction for €4,800 to a Chinese buyer.

In total, the capital of Burgundy region raised €151,620 from the “historic sale” of 3,500 bottles that were part of a collection built up since the 1960s, the city announced in a statement yesterday.

No word if complimentary mustard was included with the 1999 burgundy.