📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
The municipality is committed to restoring its local heritage through international workcamps. You will be the first generation of international volunteers to come to Cadalen. The dwellers of the Tarn are attached to History and culture. After you, several workcamps will take place in Cadalen. The local people will be happy to share with you the tales and legends of the land throughout the centuries.
Come back again in a few years to see how much your work has done for the local community!
💼 What the programme involves
Come to discover the rural South of France throughout the ages at Cadalen! It will take you back a thousand years to the Middle Ages, times of templars, cathars, knights and legends. Located in the center of the Tarn County, the Heart of Occitany, you will be at the crossroads of several natural and cultural regions, all with their own history and legends.
Cadalen\'s medieval church – a historical monument - is nowadays in ruins. You will be the third generation of volunteers to start its renovation.
You will learn traditional masonry techniques using carved stones and natural lime mortar. Accompanied by a technical facilitator you will rebuild a wall that used to be part of the town\'s church. Attention: part of the work will be carried out at height on scaffolding.
This summer, there are two international workcamps in Cadalen. You take part of the second group, so you are going to continue the work done in July by the other team of volunteers.
In the rural Tarn you will discover the deep "Douce France".
🏠 Accommodation on site
You will be accommodated in individual tent, with access to toilets, shower and kitchen. 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 grocery shopping and in the preparation of meals, prioritizing products from the market and local producers.
Please bring your sleeping bag and mat. You will wash your clothes and other items manually. Wifi is not available, French volunteers can share their internet connections via a hotspot.
📍 About the location
You will be located at the center of the Tarn County, in the Southwest of France, with remarkable natural and man-made heritage. The Tarn is a very rural area, made of sunbathed hills and valleys covered by small fields and forests. The beauty and diversity of this countryside presents a great historical, architectural and environmental interest. Outdoors activities such as hiking, archeology visits are possible.
Not far from Cadalen is the UNESCO Heritage city of Albi, where life goes on pretty much as it has since centuries ago, with one of the world\'s most impressive cathedrals.
You will be able to visit several castles and medieval landmarks, such as nearby Cordes Sur Ciel town, where international volunteers have also worked.
⚠️ Requirements
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 arise on the project, volunteers will have to pay for them, and will then be reimbursed once back in their home country.
ℹ️ Additional information
Consider taking clothes and footwear for work and hiking (including rain clothes). Bring a warm sleeping bag and a good mattress (tent sleeping), the nights are sometimes cool and humid. If you want, you can bring your own tent. And remember to take a bathing suit in case of a possible swim. Don\'t hesitate to bring home specialties, photos, games, musical instruments, etc.
Work will be on scaffoldings, which can be difficult for someone who suffers from vertigo.