Douglas to open estate to public

MICHAEL Douglas has lost his appeal against his Majorcan estate being opened to the public. His S'Estaca home, built at the turn of the century by the Austian Archduke Lluis Salvador, to whom part of his Valldemossa cultural centre is dedicated, was declared a site of Cultural Interest by the Insular Council of Majorca in 1997 and in accordance with the ruling, has to be opened to the public a certain number of times per year. The Hollywood superstar, who is expecting his first child with Welsh actress Catherine Zeta Jones, who are to marry later this summer, was none to impressed by the Insular Council's decision and lodged an appeal with the Palma High Court - however the appeal has been rejected. The ruling by the Insular Council corresponds to all of the Archduke's properties in the areas of Deya and Valldemossa. Michael Douglas fears that by having to open his estate to the general public, the property will devalue in price. The north coast of the island has been heavily protected since 1972 when it was declared Picturesque Countryside based on a law introduced in 1933. In accordance with the Insular Council's ruling, Douglas is responsible for maintaining and restoring the property, interiors and exteriors. Last year Douglas's ex-wife Diandra said that the interior of the main property will be of little interest to the general public because of the reformations and changes Douglas has carried out since he bought the estate some 20 years ago. Diandra Douglas said that the interior has little in common with the original designs and little reference to the Archduke. Ironically, Michael Douglas's Costa Nord cultural centre has dedicated part of the centre to the legacy of the Archduke.