📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Pontaumur is a village located in central France, in the Puy-de-Dome county, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region. The village is 40 km away from Clermont-Ferrand. It is crossed by the Sioulet river, a well-known trout fishing spot. The village wishes to host an international volunteers workcamp in order to maintain the river banks and help clear the heritage buildings from vegetals.
💼 What the programme involves
The municipality identified two kinds of work.The first work is the maintenance and clearing of the Sioulet river banks. A bridge allows cars to cross above the river, your mission will be to clear and embellish this bridge. A bit of small masonry will be performed for the stairs. Your work will benefit to the locals who will be able to enjoy walking along the banks.The second work is the maintenance of a wall and stairs located below the Pontaumur church. The village is located on the GR 4 path (a well-known great hike path) and hikers will appreciate your work and visit the curch conveniently. The technical help will be given by a specialist from the village who will be pleased to share his knowledge.You will work 4 to 5 hours a day.
🏠 Accommodation on site
You will be accommodated in a tent on the municipal Grand Pre campsite, located 10 minutes walk from the workcamp. You will go there by foot. You will have access to the sanitary facilities of the campsite equipped with showers and toilets. A kitchenette will be arranged under a barnum tent on the campsite. Tou will also be allowed to use the campsite s barbecue facilities. The local supermarket is a 15-minute walk from the campsite. There are also several shops in the village: butcher shop, bakery, organic shop. You will be involved in the collective cooking and household tasks.
📍 About the location
Pontaumur is a town of 800 inhabitants. This summer, you will have the opportunity to take part in the Patron Festival, which takes place on July 17, 18 and 19. Here you can meet the locals, showmen, discover the regional products and participate in the animations. The associations of the municipality will be delighted to share a moment with you. You shouldn t miss the church monumental organ, a replica of Arnstadt s organ played by Johann Sebastian Bach (organist and famous German composer). Hikers will be pleased Several small hiking trails run around the village. You can also take the GR 4 which crosses Pontaumur. This Great Hike path goes from Grasse to Royan through 13 departments. You can also go to Puy-de-Dome, a volcano that symbolizes the department. It is 1,465 meters high. It is now a dormant volcano that was born 11,000 years ago. It is at the heart of the Chaine des Puys, which is composed of about 80 volcanoes, a unique geological feature in the world. Finally, a meeting time will be organized with local young people and especially those in the holiday center of the municipality.
⚠️ Requirements
During this workcamp, you will be introduced to techniques of small masonry (staircase restoration) as well as to landscape gardening techniques: clearing, removing invasive plants. But also techniques of preserving buildings; devegetating walls and removing foam from stones. This will teach you how to use tools for maintaining green spaces. Working as a team, both with the campleaders and with other volunteers, you will develop your autonomy, your adaptability, versatility, rigor and tenacity. Those are skills you will also strengthen during group life.
