AROUND THE MILL

CODE: CONCF- 3301

Project and work :

Help restore an old mill in the charming village of Isle, in the heart of the forest! The Moulin du Meynieux site is a 5-10 minute drive from the town center, in the middle of the forest, beside a stream. It's an amazing site, at the crossroads of several hiking trails.

Your mission : continue the rehabilitation of the site (started 4 years ago with other international volunteer workcamps), by clearing weeds, strengthening the walls of the low stone walls and rebuilding the destroyed parts.

You will be supervised by a technical leader who will teach you various traditional masonry techniques.

Accommodation and meals:

You will be accommodated in individual tents (provided by Concordia), and have access to sanitary facilities, a kitchen and a communal living room. The accommodation will be next to the local sports infrastructures. You will share various collective tasks (cleaning, activities, etc.). A budget will be allocated to the campleaders, and you will help with the shopping and preparation of meals, giving priority to healthy, local produce. We want to encourage vegetarian eating, using local and seasonal produce, while respecting participants' diets and discovering local cuisine together. WIFI is available.

Partner :

The town of Isle is planning to restore an old mill and the miller's house located in the middle of the forest. To do so, the local authority will take many measures to improve the site: building premises for hunters, an educational room for the leisure centre, a footpath and reactivating the mill. Through this project, you'll be helping to restore the site while discovering and sharing a human and cultural experience with the local people.

Geographical location and leisure activities :

Isle is a French commune located in the Haute-Vienne department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, close to the city of Limoges, famous for its porcelain, but also rich in history and heritage.

The town is proud of its exceptional natural environment. In the town centre, flower gardens, green spaces and leisure facilities sit alongside local shops and services. Just a few minutes' walk away, Isle reveals an unspoilt rural area, shaped by the two valleys of the Vienne and Aurence. Woods, clearings and farms mingle with the many châteaux and manor houses in the commune, while enjoying the urban dynamism offered by the city of Limoges, just 5 minutes away.

Special requirements and remarks:

Bring a sleeping bag for cold weather, a mat or a thick sleeping mattress depending on your need for comfort, work clothes, sports shoes, warm and rain clothes, a flashlight, a swimsuit and sunscreen.

Don’t hesitate to bring anything interesting to share from your home country/region (traditional recipes, folklore stories, music, games, intriguing objects…) if you would like to share!.

Languages :

English, French

Meeting point:

The meeting point is scheduled at Limoges-Benedictins train station on the 15th of August at the end of the afternoon. The exact meeting time will be given with the infosheet which will be sent at the latest 4 weeks before the start of the workcamp. On the last day (29/08), the departure time is usually set in the morning.

From Paris, you can take a train from Paris - Gare d’Austerlitz train station, regular departures are scheduled throughout the day to Limoges (about one train every hour). The trip lasts around 3 and a half hours.

If you are coming by plane first, remember that you will need some time to commute from the airport to the train station, therefore we recommend that you arrive early enough for you not to rush and have a stress free travel.

If possible, please consider using low-carbon emissions transportation (train and bus rather than plane) for a sustainable international workcamp.

The trains are open to booking about 4 months before the departure dates, accessible on the following website: https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/

Closest airports:

PARIS AIRPORTS