Bring the medieval fortress back to life (2)

CODE: ANEC05

Location: Montaigu-le-Blin, Auvergne-Rhône Alpes, France

Context

Located in the heart of the Bourbonnais region in northern Auvergne, the village of Montaigu-le-Blin offers a rich historical and cultural heritage. Overlooking the village, the Montaigu-le-Blin fortress, dating back to the 13th century, was built to defend the crown of France and Bourbonnais against the counties of Auvergne and Forez. With its rich history, international volunteers have been welcomed at the castle since the 1980s to help maintain and promote it, and enliven local life during the summer. This year, five international workcamps are organised at the fortress over the summer. You will participate in the second session of the year!

Mission

Come and join the preservation and enhancement efforts of this exceptional heritage! Around the castle, you will carry out several restoration tasks. Guided by a technical supervisor, you will help maintain the masonry by learning traditional techniques: removing and re-pointing the walls, making lime and sand mortar, and handling the tools. You will also assist with maintaining the woodwork: safety barriers and building with pallets for relaxation areas. Finally, you will take part in maintining the fortress's environment: clearing brush, pruning shrubs, maintaining the vegetable garden, and renovating the dry toilet cabins. You will also be able to take part in hands-on and cultural activities aimed at enhancing and showcasing the fortress.

Daily life

Beyond the working hours, volunteers come together to organise daily life on the camp. Often divided into teams, they plan menus, help with the shopping, prepare meals, and ensure the cleanliness of shared spaces. Fully involved in shaping your experience, you will also take part in decision-making regarding group activities and daily organization!

In order to reduce the environmental impact of our projects, we prioritise vegetarian menus, which meet all the nutrional needs of participants. There will be French volunteers on the workcamp. Some of them might not speak English. This can be an opportunity for everyone to develop new language skills and innovatove ways of communicating!

Accomodation

Volunteers are accommodated at the Saint-Mihiel Leisure Center, located 20 minutes on foot from the Promenade des Capucins. They share the space with a local recreation center and vacationers staying in caravans or tents nearby. The areas dedicated to the project volunteers are privatised for their use.

What you will find on site:
1 small tent per person
An alternative shelter is available at the town hall in case of severe weather
A small cabin with an indoor kitchen (sink, fridge, stove, oven, dishes, games)
2 individual toilets in solid structures
2 individual showers in solid structures
Outdoor sinks
Some basins and soap to wash your clothes
A large marquee under which tables and chairs will be set up

A day on the workcamp
The day's schedule may vary depending on the camp leaders, the group, and the weather. Volunteers play an active role in their workcamp and can adjust the schedule, in coordination with the team. Keep in mind that every workcamp is different, and each experience is unique. Stay flexible and proactive! In general, volunteers spend around 20 hours per week working, and have two days off dedicated to cultural outings, on-site activities, and free time. Here's what a typical day on a worksite might look like:

8am-12h30pm: Work
10:30am-12:30pm: Meal preparation
12:30pm-1:30pm: Lunch
1:30pm-2pm: Clean up
2pm-3:30pm: On-site activities
3:30pm-6pm: Free time
6pm-7:30pm: Free time
6pm-7:30pm: Meal preparation
9pm-9:30pm: Dinner
9:30pm-10:30pm: Evening activities