📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Imagine yourself restoring a little chapel from the 11th century, nestled on top of a hill in a wild valley, far away from any roads or civilisation... Saint-Pal-de-Mons is a charming little town and the gateway to the Velay, a region of extinct volcanoes interspersed with valleys. For several years, the town council has been running a project to maintain and showcase local heritage for visitors. You will follow in the footsteps of previous international volunteers who have come from all around the world for five consecutive summers to participate to this project. This year, you will work on the site of a small, isolated Roman chapel in a very beautiful valley that can only be accessed by foot. The local population and young people will be a great help to the workcamp and time will be spent getting to know each other during celebrations, leisure activities and when exploring this region that is rich in natural heritage.
💼 What the programme involves
Your mission will be to rebuild the roof of the chapel. You will work alongside a technician specialised in traditional building methods in order to mend cracks on the outside of the chapel and to consolidate the top of the walls on which the new framework will be based. To do this, you will be accompanied by a specialised company. You will participate in the realisation of a big « human chain » with the inhabitants in order to bring all the materials needed for the workcamp to the chapel. Various restoration works might also be proposed such as the traditional rehabilitation of the walls surrounding the washhouse.
🏠 Accommodation on site
You will sleep in two-person tents in a park located in the centre of the village, closed to the public, with use of a building made available by the council for social purposes (fully-equipped kitchen, dishwasher, large dining room). When the weather is good you will eat your meals outside. The group will be sharing the cleaning chores and preparing meals together. The budget will be allocated to the group leader and you will participate in the preparation of dishes with good products from the market and local producers.
📍 About the location
Saint-Pal-de-Mons (2,000 inhabitants) is located in the Haute-Loire district of Auvergne, 60km North of Puy-en-Velay and 30km from Saint-Etienne. It is a very beautiful region of medium-sized mountains (800 metres above sea level) with a very natural landscape made up of beautiful valleys. You will have the opportunity to take part in outdoor leisure activities (Hiking, picnics and swimming in the river and Lavalette Lake, rail-biking or even a high ropes course), sharing football games and barbecues with the local team, and visiting towns such as Puy-en-Velay and Saint-Etienne. You will be able to attend different shows throughout your stay.
For more information have a look at: http://www.ot-lepuyenvelay.fr/
ℹ️ Additional information
Work will take place on scaffolding.
The work site will better suit to people who like nature and walking. Bring working clothes, walking boots and a swimsuit. Nights can be chilly, so bring warm clothes and a good sleeping bag. You can also bring recipes from your home country, musical instruments and games. You will get around Saint-Pal-de-Mons on foot and by car.
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.