📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise is a 1500 inhabitants village on the edge of the volcanic lake Pavin. The town is located at the heart of Auvergne’s volcans, on the Sancy massif. Known for its ski resort Super Besse, the village attracts numerous visitors in both winter and summer. Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise has on its domain several watermills in ruins alongside the Couze Pavin river. In order to protect its patrimony and to offer its residents a hiking place both natural and cultural, Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise’s city hall, for the fourth time, asks with a lot of enthusiasm for an international youth camp to join this project.
💼 What the programme involves
You will participate in the restoration of a watermill on the banks of the Couze river. Once built by men to use the energy offered by the river, those watermills are now in ruins. In this way you will participate in their restoration and their valorisation to preserve the History written by men of olden times. You will have to remove the vegetation and clear the sides of the watermill. Then you will take part in the strengthening of the dry masonry walls of the watermills. You will be accompanied by a technical supervisor and local volunteers. They will be happy to share with you their skills and the history of this place dear to them. This project will be the opportunity for you to discover the particularities of the cultural patrimony renovation and dry masonry. Also, through contact with the inhabitants and other volunteers you will develop your communication, listening, adaptation, responsiveness and mutual aid skills. You will work 4 to 5 hours a day.
🏠 Accommodation on site
The town center will provide small chalets with bunk beds and a single bed. You will be able to use the showers and the sanitary located a few meters away from the chalets. A kitchen area will be installed under a tent. Each volunteer will be asked to take an active part in the group’s life: meals preparation, dish washing, cleaning the sanitary, the facility and its premises.
📍 About the location
Located 50 km to the south of Clermont-Ferrand, Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise is a village which obtained the certification label Little Towns with Character for its atypical living environment and its rich patrimony. By walking around the narrow cobblestone streets, you will be able to visit the Saint-André Church, The Bailiff Castle and admire the beautiful houses built with lava stones and red shutters like the old Broglie Hospital. Built on an ancient lava flow and close to the national natural reserve of Chaudefour valley, you will also have the opportunity to increase your geological knowledge thanks to many hiking paths. The town center website will help you organize your excursions.
ℹ️ Additional information
Chantier ouvert aux Français à partir de 17 ans
