Help us save the ruins of Arzeliers!

CODE: SJ/ESC71

Work:

You will be working on consolidating the masonry of the stone walls in the ruins of the ancient village of Arzeliers. Using plaster mortar, you'll work on the tops of stone wall slabs that are not protected from the elements by a roof. A local expert will guide you in the making of mortar, holding workshops on the preparation and firing of local plaster. Some activities involve working on scaffolding. Each day, two members of the group will take turns preparing meals for the team; the menu will be defined in advance. You'll work on-site during the morning, Monday to Friday. Generally speaking, the work involves masonry, preparing tools and meals, as well as organizing and setting up collective life.

Accomodation and food

You will be hosted in individual tents on the municipal campsite. The site will be equipped with a large tent that will house the kitchen as well as the group's collective meeting place during the stay. You'll have access to sanitary facilities, and a pétanque court will be available on the campsite. Here, we take great care with our food to reduce our environmental impact: we eat locally as much as possible and reduce our meat consumption to twice a week. Daily life is organized collectively: organization of menus (vegetarian, vegan diets, etc.), shopping, activities, and so on. We organize shopping trips, if necessary, using the vehicles provided on-site.

Location and leisure

The construction site is set a few kilometers from the accommodation site, which can be reached on foot or by shuttle bus.
You will enjoy the natural environment of the Laragnais region and its many easily accessible bathing spots, such as the Méouge and Riou gorges, as well as the town of Sisteron. Discovering this area in the company of a group of international volunteers will enrich your experience. In fact, you'll be the protagonists of your stay: you'll organize your own free time and benefit from the support of an animation team. In the afternoons, workshops and reflections on well-being will be offered.

Project hosted by

For 20 years, volunteers from all over the world have been working to preserve the remains of an ancient ruined village. Will you be the next to join the adventure?
Situated between the Alps and Provence, the ancient village of Arzeliers stands on a hill overlooking a vast panorama. Remains of 12th-century buildings can be found here: a castle, a chapel, traces of fortifications, and several houses. For several years now, in partnership with the commune of Laragne, the association Les Villages des Jeunes has been working to bring the remains of the Château d'Arzeliers to life and maintain them. The various projects we organize on this site aim to enhance and consolidate the ruins of this precious work of architecture while enriching its history through intercultural encounters typical of international work camps.

Directions to meeting point

Laragne Municipal camping site, 14th of October 2025 from 3 pm.

Additional comments

This workcamp is funded by the European Solidarity Corps.There is no registration fee. Transport costs will be reimbursed up to a lumpsum fixed according to the travelled distance. Pocket money of €7 per day will be distributed.