The glamorous widow of a wealthy French hermit who died in a car crash has lost her battle to claim his millions.

Estate agent Sandrine Devillard, who was 25 years younger than husband Marcel Amphoux, challenged a 'will' written on the back of an envelope which cut her from his inheritance.

The document, which was accepted by a court, left his money to a female cousin, while huts worth hundreds of thousands of euros were awarded to tenants.

The wedding of Sandrine Devillard, who was 25 years younger than husband Marcel Amphoux, sparked an outcry, and hecklers booed throughout the ceremony

It is thought the will had been written shortly before he died in November 2012.

Their marriage had proved controversial in the Alpine village of Puy-Saint-Pierre, where hecklers booed during their wedding, and even the mayor asked police to investigate the union.

The toothless hermit, who was 68 when he died, lived in a hut with no electricity or running water. French newspaper Le Point reports that he 'lived like a bear'.

The estate agent married the toothless hermit, who French media report lived 'like a bear' in a hut with no electricity or running water

By contrast, she continued to run her businesses in Paris.

Amphoux was introduced to Davillard when she approached him trying to buy his land.

Five huts he owned could potentially be worth hundreds of thousands if they are converted into chalets. Although he refused to sell up, a romance ensued between the two.

The wealthy landowner met his end when a car driven by Davillard's friend was involved in a crash. The driver and passenger survived, and the driver was acquitted of manslaughter.

The wealthy landowner died a year after the couple tied the knot, but had cut her from his will shortly before his death

Following the outcry that the marriage caused, she made a song and music video, called The Call of the Sun, which featured her husband - although he did not show his face.

She appears at the start of the video as an urbanite arriving in the Alps, and it shows her adapting to her new life.

Devillard said at the time: 'Marcel is a man from the Middle Ages, even prehistoric times.

'I am a true Parisian. I still live there. But I visit my husband as often as I can. To see him and to make him smile.'

After the will emerged, Devillard claimed it was not in her husband's writing, and said he had been the victim of an 'abuse of trust'

Village mayor Jean-Marius Barnéoud reportedly even asked police to investigate the unlikely union over fears Amphoux was being duped into marrying her.

Photographs of their wedding appeared in national newspapers.

After the will emerged, Devillard claimed it was not in her husband's writing, and said he had been the victim of an 'abuse of trust'.

But legal experts did not agree. Prosecutor Raphael Balland said, Le Figaro reports: 'The will is in his hand.'