RESTORE A TRADITIONAL WASHHOUSE !
France
Construction
Renovation
Construction
Renovation
Fixed dates
About the project
RESTORE A TRADITIONAL WASHHOUSE !
📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Nogent-sur-Vernisson is an active little town, known for its natural assets and its protected environment. Apart from the construction work, you will have the opportunity to discover the local history. The name "Nogent" comes from "Novio magos" which means "new market" in the Gallic language. The oldest civilization vestiges date from the Gallo-Roman period. Some of them are exposed in the media library. You will also be able to discover the National Arboretum of Les Barres, a natural setting of over 300 acres, created in the middle of the 19th century. It is bringing together a very large variety of trees and shrubs from all continents. With more than 2,600 referenced species, it is considered as one of the most important botanical parks in Europe.
💼 What the programme involves
Participate in the restoration of a traditional washhouse in Nogent-sur-Vernisson, a small town in the Gatinais region known for its remarkable landscape, located about 100 km south of Paris. Several washhouses are located along the creek that flows through the village. As part of a project to highlight this heritage, the municipality wishes to restore one of them, which has been worn down by time, to its former glory.
Your mission will be to repair the stone parts that have been weakened using traditional masonry techniques. You will also have to rebuild wooden parts, as well as the typical tiled roof. In this way, you will contribute to bringing this heritage back to life, for the delight of the inhabitants and the curious passers-by.
🏠 Accommodation on site
The accommodation will be set up about 15 minutes walk from the work camp area. You will sleep in individual tents. Inside the town’s gymnasium, you will have access to toilets and showers. A kitchen will also be available for you to prepare your meals. The whole space will be at your disposal for your activities and to retreat in case of bad weather. In collaboration with the animation team, you will participate in the shopping and in the cooking. Following an eco-friendly approach, you will be invited to use local and seasonal products. By the way, feel free to come with your own recipes, it's a great opportunity to share your history and culture with the group. A washing machine or a laundromat will be available (it is still recommended to bring 3 weeks of clothes). Wi-Fi will be available in the town hall or by sharing the connection with the French volunteers and the animation team.
📍 About the location
The city of Nogent-sur-Vernisson is located about a hundred kilometers south of Paris, in the heart of the Gatinais orleanais, known for its large national forests and its farmland. It is a territory with a very rich history. In addition to the National Arboretum of Les Barres, you will be able to discover the towns and castles of the region during your free time, especially the towns of Montargis and Gien, which are easily reachable by public transportation. The city of Paris is also accessible by train.
⚠️ Requirements
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 arise on the project, volunteers will have to pay for them, and will then be reimbursed once back in their home country.
This project is supported by the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) program for young people between 18 and 30. It is open to all volunteers that fit the ESC criteria.
The participation to ESC volunteering teams is subjected to several principles and conditions, presented on the ESC webpage: https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity/mission_en
- volunteers do not have to pay any fee (neither sending, nor participation fee) to attend the project and will receive financial support for their travel, according to a maximum amount established depending on their travel distance and upon the presentation of original tickets;
- volunteers need to enrol in the PASS, the ESC Portal; then Concordia France will organise their matching, on the online system, with the volunteering project;
- volunteers will receive pocket money, calculated on the basis of 6€/day, once they arrive at the project in France;
- volunteers will have to complete a participation report, submitted online through the portal.
ℹ️ Additional information
The construction site is located in a rural area. For practical and ecological reasons, travels will be on foot or by bicycle.
Remember to take gloves, clothes and shoes suitable for outdoor work. Don't forget to bring a sleeping bag and a mattress to sleep. Also remember to bring summer and raincoat, as well as your swimsuit and toiletries.
You can bring board games, a musical instrument or any other object from your country that you wish to share with the group.
Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.
Sign in to apply📷 Project photos
RESTORE A TRADITIONAL WASHHOUSE !
RESTORE A TRADITIONAL WASHHOUSE !
RESTORE A TRADITIONAL WASHHOUSE !
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📅 Available sessions
CONCF-4504-ESC
04/08/2023 → 25/08/2023
Volunteers registered
0 / 12
♂ 0/6
♀ 0/6
ℹ️ Key information
Age required
18–30 years old
Solidarity donation
0.00
French tax residents may be eligible for a tax reduction of up to 66% of their costs (membership, plane tickets, solidarity donation).
📍 Location
45290 Nogent-sur-Vernisson, France
France
🌍 Location info
Local currency
Euro Member Countries (EUR / €)
Timezone
Central European Standard Time
Local time: 21:31 (12/11/2026)
🛡️ Before you leave
✅ Features
🏠 Accommodation
Collective
🗣️ Languages spoken
English
French