Make the Fortress alive again !
France
Renovation
Environment
Renovation
Environment
Fixed dates
About the project
Make the Fortress alive again !
📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Inside a lovely little French village, the castle of Montaigu le Blin is an impressive medieval fortress, classified as Historical Monument. It is located on the top of a hill, overlooking the countryside.
Since 2002, volunteers have been participating, every summer, to the restoration of the castle. These last years, the fortress has regained its beauty! Since the 80s, volunteers come every year to restore and protect the castle.
These last coupl of years, the volunteers restored the masonry of the Chambers of Lords and developped the medieval vegetable garden at the bottom of the Lord's tower. This year, it's your turn to live an experience back in time!
💼 What the programme involves
Participate to the protection and enhancement of this breathtaking heritage! Within the castle, you will realize various works of restoration of walls (ramparts, towers) using traditional techniques and help maintain the vegetation (clearing bushes, etc.) as well as many other varied tasks.
Beyond this work, you will reflect together on sustainable development using traditional techniques in the restoration of the fortress, but also in the daily life of the group. Campleaders will guide you along the project. You will also take part in the touristic activities of the site by welcoming the visitors (tourists and local inhabitants) in the castle and explain the work , show the progress you have been doing the last few weeks!
Protecting this piece of heritage takes time, and a lot of energy. Come contribute to its rebuilding !
🏠 Accommodation on site
Accommodation is in a cottage in Montaigu le Blin, 5 minutes walk from the castle. You will have to bring sleeping bag. You, volunteer, are actor/actress of your project ! You will manage the tasks of daily life in teams (shopping, cooking, and cleaning). A rotation will be organised by the campleaders to ensure the smooth running of daily life. As for the transportation, the campleaders will come and pick you up at the nearest train station.
📍 About the location
Montaigu le Blin is located in the French Bourbonnais area, 30km North from Vichy and 90km North from Clermont-Ferrand, in the French Auvergne region. It is a countryside rich with historical heritage, which you will be able to discover by visiting a few of the numerous castles and medieval cities, by hiking, going by bike or canoeing, according to what the leading team and the weather can propose.
The inhabitants of the village are used to welcome volunteers from all over the world come every summer. You will pick up bread from the innkeeper Didier, ask for eggs on a Sunday evening to Monique, the weather the next day to Jean Pascal, show your progress to Jean Louis who is passionate about the castle, you will feast with the fruits and vegetables offered by the local gardeners...and so much more!
The campleaders will prepare games and activities for the group but will also encourage you to propose and build your own activities according to your desires. Bring ideas and be creative !
⚠️ Requirements
This project is supported by the European Solidarity Corps program for young people aged 18 to 30. It is open to all volunteers who meet the ESC criteria. Participation in ESC volunteer teams is subject to several principles and conditions, which are presented on the ESC webpage: https://europa. eu/youth/solidarity/mission_en - Volunteers do not have to pay any fees (neither sending fees nor participation fees) to participate in the project - Volunteers have to register in PASS, the European Solidarity Corps portal; the "host organization" will organize their matching in the portal with the volunteer project; - Volunteers will receive pocket money, calculated on the basis of the "rate of your country" 6€/day, upon their arrival on the project in France; - Volunteers will receive financial support for their travel, according to a maximum amount established according to their travel distance and upon presentation of the original tickets; - Volunteers will have to fill in a participation report, submitted online via the portal
Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.
Sign in to apply📅 Available sessions
ANEC28ESC
11/10/2021 → 24/10/2021
Volunteers registered
0 / 14
♂ 0/7
♀ 0/7
ℹ️ Key information
Age required
18–30 years old
Solidarity donation
0.00 EUR
French tax residents may be eligible for a tax reduction of up to 66% of their costs (membership, plane tickets, solidarity donation).
📍 Location
03150 Montaigu-le-Blin, France
France
🌍 Location info
Local currency
Euro Member Countries (EUR / €)
Timezone
Central European Standard Time
Local time: 21:12 (12/11/2026)
🛡️ Before you leave
✅ Features
🏠 Accommodation
Collective
🗣️ Languages spoken
English
French