📝 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. There is also a remarkable collection of mansions and private castles, many dovecotes, vineyard huts, a network of fountains and crosses. As one of 16 villages in the Auvergne region listed as remarkable, Artonne competes for the "Most beautiful villages in France" and "Small town of character" labellings.
The municipality is in a heritage restoration process, in order to safeguarding the vestiges of its past, the showcase for its residents and visitors and improve the aesthetic appearance of the town. To do so, the people open the doors of their village for the first time to international volunteers. They are waiting for you impatiently!
💼 What the programme involves
You will begin the restoration of a typical lime kiln. This one is abandoned for many years, vegetation has invaded the building and the furnace collapsed. You will clean the surroundings of the site, un-weed the wall around the ovens, then you will consolidate the beautiful stone entry arch. Depending on the time remaining, you will also undertake the restoration of the furnace chimney. Accompanied by a technical instructor, you will learn traditional building techniques using local stone and lime mortar.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Sleeping in two-places tents around the stadium of the village. Access to sanitation
(shower and toilet), the locker room and cooking space will be provided for the
group of volunteers. Meals can be taken outside when the weather is nice and under a marquee installed on site. In case of rain, you can use the multipurpose room located in the town. The group will be sharing the cleaning chores and 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. A green surroundings of the village includes protected natural areas. At about 30 km north of Clermont-Ferrand is a wine producing region that 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/.
⚠️ Requirements
Working on heights possible, on mason trestles . Bring work 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.