📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
The association Mille Pattes, located in the village of Durban-sur-Arize wants to organize for the 5th time an international workcamp of young volunteers around the castle of St. Barthelémy. At the 11th century, a first castle was built on a roman opidium, with smaller size, towards 1569, during religion wars, protestants attacked and burnt down the churches of Durban. Until the 13th century, it is occupied by cathar family. In 1657 the castle in uninhabited and from then, became ruins. Founded in 1987, the association Mille Pattes has set a goal to create a place for meetings and cultural exchanges in Ariège. It was in 1990 that the association acquires the ideal place to facilitate these exchanges. It is a hill of 18 hectares located above the gorge of Arize. There remains of a medieval castle and a chapel. Today, the association wants to go further in the conservation of these buildings, continue to protect the site, secure access to the castle and perfect conditions for permanent home visitors and volunteers. To this end, the association plans to host a group of young volunteers to assist in this work.
💼 What the programme involves
Supervised by a volunteer of the association Mille Pattes, young volunteers participate in various maintenance and development on the site of Château Saint-Barthelemy located in Durban-sur-Arize. This includes the restoration of walls (masonry works) and cleaning vegetation. Your supervisor will transmit his knowledge of the castle and the traditionnal technics of restoration.
🏠 Accommodation on site
You will stay in tents in the grounds of the castle. Important: housing conditions are simple (dry toilets and solar showers), this camp is meant for volunteers who love peace and nature. Access to the castle is only by foot (15 minute steep path from the village, watch out for your travel bags - prefer a backpack). We cannot accommodate you if you arrive before the starting date of the workcamp.
📍 About the location
View of the castle by drone : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkJD8VyMQIo Located halfway between Foix and St Girons, the village of Durban-sur-Arize, crossed by Arize is a charming village in the Ariège part of the Regional Natural Park of the Pyrenees. With the castle overlooking, the village has a remarkable built heritage with most of the stone buildings. This castle belonging to the association "Mile Pattes" is an ancient and medieval fortress dated 11th century. Located in the heart of Séronnais, the site offers many hiking. The members of "Mille Pattes" will offer you an introduction to archeology and rock climbing.