DRY STONE IN PROVENCE

CODE: CONCF- 1314

Work
Help preserve the heritage of Châteaudouble, a small medieval Provencal village typical of southern France. For lovers of nature, hilltop villages and heritage!
The village hosts a number of cultural events at its open-air Théâtre de Verdure, on an esplanade overlooking the village and its listed monuments, with a magnificent unobstructed view.
As the site is vast, a number of restoration projects are planned, with the main aim of building the dry-stone wall adjoining the Châteaudouble open-air theater, and the secondary aim of constructing the steps to demarcate the passageway.
Accomodation and food
You'll be housed in tents (provided by CONCORDIA) on the Plateau de Sainte-Anne, adjacent to the Théâtre de Verdure, with access to the former Sainte-Anne chapel, now a multi-purpose hall with toilets and an indoor kitchen and dining area. As we don't have a bathroom on site, we'll be installing solar-powered showers. Laundry will be done by hand.
You'll share the various collective tasks and prepare meals together, either in the outdoor summer kitchen or under the small covered facility. A budget will be allocated to the organizers, and you'll help with grocery-shopping and meal preparation, giving priority to healthy, vegetarian, local products.
Location and leisure
Overlooking the Nartuby gorges in the Haut Var, Châteaudouble has preserved its authentic medieval appearance. The village invites you to explore its narrow streets, wander between the houses and climb up to the castle ruins on the Sainte Anne plateau.
Châteaudouble offers a wide range of leisure activities, including visits and walks, swimming in the rivers and gorges, kayaking in the gorges or at sea, hiking, local sports such as pétanque, and participation in the various village festivities.
As the commune is isolated with little public transport, the vast majority of activities will take place on site. Outings to the gorges and/or the sea can also be organized.
Project hosted by
Châteaudouble is a medieval village with a rich heritage of sumptuous monuments, some of which are listed. Very dynamic and committed to promoting its historical and natural heritage, the commune is also developing several projects in the village. For the seventh consecutive year, we are renewing our partnership with the commune of Châteaudouble.
Our work and your commitment will enable us to restore and enhance this magnificent site for the benefit of local residents and tourists alike!
Directions to meeting point
The meeting point is the Gare des ARCS DRAGUIGNAN on 09/07 at 5pm. From the Gare de Lyon in Paris, there are several direct or connecting trains to Les ARCS DRAGUIGNAN station. The journey takes around 5 hours.
An “on-demand” rural bus service operates in the area, linking Draguignan and Châteaudouble; the organizers will be in touch with you in the days leading up to the site, with specific instructions on how to get to the site.
Train reservations can be made around 4 months before departure on the SNCF website, link below:
https://www.sncf-connect.com
Whenever possible, use low-carbon means of transport (train or bus, rather than plane) for a responsible and sustainable international worksite.
Additional comments
Remember to pack clothes and shoes for work and hiking. Nights can be chilly, so bring a warm comforter and a sleeping mat. Don't forget to bring a hat or cap, sunglasses, sunscreen, a small backpack, a water bottle and mosquito repellent, as well as loose-fitting clothing for the evenings.
You can also bring recipes from your country/region, musical instruments and games.
As the village is far from the meeting point (Gare les Arcs Draguignan) and has no public transport, it's imperative to be at the meeting point on time!
The last day is for departure, usually in the morning.
Requirements
Foreigners belonging to the European Union must bring with them a personal EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), and everybody must, in any case, bring their insurance certificate. If health issues happen on the project, volunteers will have to pay for it, and will then be reimbursed once back in their home country.