📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
The city of Saint-Mihiel has been working for several years to restore a rich and diverse heritage. Les Roches is composed of 7 massive rocks also called the Ladies of the Meuse and is located at the outskirts of the city. At the time, it was a living place in the Neolithic period, it is today a very popular place for walking, pilgrimage and climbing. Last year, volunteers began to work on the restoration of a dry stone wall on the edge of the site in order to embellish the place. Our 2020's goal is to complete the restoration of the wall and at the same time provide a new habitat for the local fauna and flora. The choice to do an international workcamp in Saint-Mihiel is linked to the elected member's personnal experience as a workcamp volunteer in his youth and the sweet memories he has of these times led him to develop this kind of project in his municipality.
💼 What the programme involves
The aim of the workcamp is to complete the work started last year by the volunteers and to restore the second half of the wall. It is a great opportunity to learn an old building technique : dry stone walls. This technique is useful to build solid walls providing a natural protection for insects and small animals as well as to provide good conditions for the plants to grow. During the construction work, you will be able to see by yourselves how life is growing in these types of walls. You will also learn how to sort the stones according to their uses, develop your knowledge of the kind of stones which can be found in the area and learn how to arrange them to restore the wall.
🏠 Accommodation on site
The accommodation is in a building. It is a former leisure base with dormitories for 3/4 persons equipped with mattresses. Toilets and showers are also available and you will have to share them. In addition, a kitchen is adjacent as well as a relaxation area. You will have all the comfort possible in a bucolic setting since the accommodation is located close to a river. All aspects of community life (shopping, meal preparation, cleaning) will be managed by you, volunteers, based on a system that you will have decided upon together (e.g. use of planning, formation of pairs, etc.). You will be assisted in this task by a group leader. The aim: that each volunteer is an actor of his or her stay in the respect of others and community life.
📍 About the location
Saint-Mihiel is located in the upper valley of the Meuse, a river that runs through the town. Saint-Mihiel has recently been awarded the label "Petite cité de caractère". This label aims to to value the towns with a remarkable architectural and historical heritage. The town is full of treasures to be discovered, especially the splendid mansions of Renaissance period (18th and 19th century), a famous artistic heritage enhanced by the students of the school of sculpture of Ligier Richier, or an exceptional Benedictine library who hides treasures of french literature old from the 8th century. The proximity to historical sites and especially Verdun makes it interesting to discover the relic of the past and the first world war history. In the heart of a rural and green region, the location is ideal to do many hiking trails and outdoor activities (climbing, canoeing, kayaking ...). Your campleaders and our partners will be pleased to take you to discover this exceptional heritage.
ℹ️ Additional information
Wifi is available at the leisure centre. Unfortunately the accommodation and work sites are not accessible to wheelchairs.
