📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
The village of Artonne is rich of a very important built heritage including listed monuments witnessing the importance of the borough during the Middle Age. It also has a remarkable collection of mansions and private castles, many dovecotes, vineyard huts and a network of fountains and crosses. Artonne even obtained the quality label of “small city with character” in 2016 and takes part in the famous “most beautiful village of France” competition.
The municipality is therefore in a heritage restoration process to safeguard the vestiges of its past, to showcase for its residents and visitors and to improve the aesthetic appearance of the town in general. To do so, the inhabitants opened for the first time last year their village’s doors to international volunteers and are impatiently waiting for you!
💼 What the programme involves
You will resume the restoration of a typical lime kiln started last year by international volunteers. This one was abandoned for many years: vegetation invaded the building and the furnace collapsed. The facade wall started being rebuilt in 2016. This year you will resume the building of a concrete block wall which will be covered with a stone facing. Depending on the time remaining, you will also participate in the restoration of the furnace chimney. Accompanied by a technical instructor, you will learn traditional building techniques.
🏠 Accommodation on site
You will sleep under two-place tents around the stadium of the village. The sanitary facilities (shower and toilet), the locker room and cooking space will be provided for the group of volunteers. Meals can be taken outdoor when the weather is nice and under a marquee installed on site. In case of rain, you can use the village hall located in the town. The group will be sharing the cleaning chores and be preparing meals together. The budget will be allocated to the group leader and you will participate in the preparation of dishes using good products from the market and local producers.
📍 About the location
Artonne is a town of about 800 people located in the wine-producing Limagne region, between the cities of Limagne and Combrailles. The village has kept its original identity of "Balcony Village" coiled mid-slopes. The green surroundings of the village include protected natural areas. At about 30 km north of Clermont-Ferrand, its wine producing region offers many opportunities for hiking, canoeing and kayaking and swimming in lakes.
Concerts and shows in Riom will also punctuate your stay.
For more information have a look at:http://www.tourisme-riomlimagne.fr/.
ℹ️ Additional information
Working on heights possible, on mason trestles. Bring working clothes, hiking boots and a backpack. The nights can be cool; so take warm clothes and a good sleeping bag. You can also take recipes from your country, musical instruments and games. You will get around Artonne on foot and by car.
Foreigners belonging to the European Union must bring with them a personal EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), and everybody must, in any case, bring their insurance certificate. If health issues happen on the project, volunteers will have to pay for it, and then be reimbursed once back in their home country.