📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Do you want to participate in the protection of a historic site in the heart of idyllic mountain landscapes? Join us and come discover the castle of Lesdiguières and its natural setting at an altitude of 1140 metres!
The Duke of Lesdiguières, the last Constable of France, is a military figure known for his participation in the Wars of Religion and for his involvement in the construction and development of roads, bridges and dikes against flooding in the region. He had this castle built between 1571 and 1580, which was abandoned after his death. It was looted during the French Revolution. The castle is listed in the supplementary inventory of Historic Monuments in 1978. In 2000, the "Château de Lesdiguières" association was created with the aim of safeguarding the historical, architectural and cultural memory of the building. Since 2010, the various works that we have been organising on this site are aimed at securing and reinforcing the existing walls, but also at enhancing its value.
💼 What the programme involves
Since 2018, we have been working on the reinforcement of the masonry of an escarpment wall (defence wall). With time and bad weather, this wall has suffered some damage and its stones are coming loose. With the help of the technical supervisor, we will work with old techniques and materials (such as lime). At certain times, we will work at height, using scaffolding. We will work around 30 hours per week.
🏠 Accommodation on site
In tents at the "La Pra" campsite in Saint Firmin, located at the entrance to the Valgaudemar valley. On the campsite, we will spend a quiet stay in a mountainous and exceptional green setting. We will have access to facilities such as toilets, barbecue, petanque ground, WIFI. We will set up a large kitchen tent in order to prepare our meals. The preparation of the meals is done in turn, so that we can taste several specialities! Here, we pay attention to what we eat, to reduce our impact on the planet, we try to eat a maximum of local products and we eat meat twice a week. Collective life is organized together: organization of menus, shopping, activities, etc.
📍 About the location
In the heart of the Ecrins National Park, between the Valgaudemar, Champsaur and Dévoluy valleys. Your eyes will never cease to be amazed by this exceptional environment! We can discover the pleasures of hiking in the mountains, its rivers and lakes, farmers' and producers' markets, and festive evenings organised in the surrounding villages (depending on the programme). As a group, we will decide which activities and discovery outings we wish to organise (subject to distance).