📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Paris Roubaix or north hell is one of the most famous cycling races in the world. The runners take paved axes that were laid in the nineteenth century to promote mining. However, many of these roads were disappearing, replaced by bitumen or under weeds, making the future of the bike race uncertain. For several years, enthusiasts have been fighting to save this working memory and the race by trying to save the paved areas. Even though certain sectors are classified as "historical monuments" or included in the UNESCO classification perimeter of the mining basin. For 2 years as part of their curriculum of vocational training, high schools intervene to renovate cobblestone sectors in connection with the association FRIENDS OF PARIS ROUBAIX. Your intervention therefore enters a precise and expected framework!
For more information: http://www.lesamisdeparisroubaix.com/
💼 What the programme involves
With the support of the volunteers of the Friends of Paris Roubaix, you will intervene on various paved sectors on the territory of the commune of WALLERS, just around the famous gap of AREMBERG which is one of the most challenging spot of the race.
3 types of jobs are programmed:
• Reworking tessellations to consolidate certain areas where the pavers have disappeared, be careful you should know that this type of paver weighs more than 15 kg.
• The creation of "valleys", it means specific borders allowing the flow of rainwater to ensure the durability of paving stones through the evacuation of water
• The clearing and evacuation of topsoil accumulated on certain areas so that the paved area does not become too grassy
Finally on this sector, there is a ruin; it was an old coffee shop in the middle of the fields. This ruin regularly serves as a wild deposit. The idea is to store all the dirt that will be generated to create, at the right season; a landscaping in close collaboration with the horticultural school.
🏠 Accommodation on site
You will be hosted in tents, girls and boys separated, at the football stadium. You will be able to use all the facilities for daily life (kitchen, sanitary). You will share the different collective tasks and prepare the meals together.
📍 About the location
Wallers is located in the heart of the North Mining Basin between Lille and Valenciennes near the forest of Raimes.
⚠️ Requirements
Remember to take clothes for the manual work and closed shoes. For the accommodation under tents, bring your sleeping bag and floor mat. Please feel free to bring some food specialties, pictures, musical instrument: things you like and want to share with the group and the local community!
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.
ℹ️ Additional information
Meeting point:
Wallers train station
Closest airport:
Paris