Tracing the steps of the duke of Lesdiguieres

CODE: SJ/ESC36

Work:

You will be working on consolidating the masonry of a stone parapet wall in the castle ruins. You will restore the masonry on the first rows of stones. A local expert will guide you in the choice of stones to be used, their positioning, and the use of mortar. 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 accommodated in individual tents in a campsite at an altitude of 950 m. 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, a barbecue, a petanque court, and Wi-Fi.
Here, we pay attention to our food to reduce our environmental impact: we eat local as much as possible and reduce our meat consumption to twice a week.
Daily life is organized collectively: menus (vegetarian, vegan diets, etc.), shopping, activities, and so on. We organize shopping trips once or twice a week 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.
In the heart of the Ecrins National Park, between the Valgaudemar, Champsaur, and Dévoluy Valleys, we invite you to take full advantage of this exceptional environment! Discover the pleasures of mountain hiking, wandering near rivers and lakes; enjoying local markets, and festive evenings organized in the surrounding villages (according to the program). Discovering this place in the company of a group of international volunteers will enrich your experience. You will be the protagonists of your stay: you will organize your own free time and benefit from the support of a team of animators. In the afternoons, workshops and reflections on well-being will be offered.

Project hosted by

For 24 years, volunteers from all over the world have been working to preserve the remains of the Duc de Lesdiguières castle. Will you be the next to join the adventure?
Set in idyllic mountain scenery, this 16th-century château has been listed as a Historical Monument since 1978. In 2000, a local association was created to safeguard the building's historical, architectural, and cultural memory. The Duc de Lesdiguières - the building's illustrious patron - was the last Constable of France. This military figure is known for his involvement in the Wars of Religion, as well as for his commitment to the construction and development of roads, bridges, and dikes to prevent flooding in the region. He had this château built between 1571 and 1580, but after his death, it was abandoned and looted during the French Revolution. Nowadays the various works we are organizing on this site are designed to consolidate the ruins of this precious work of architecture while enriching its history through the intercultural encounters typical of international work camps.

Directions to meeting point

Shuttle to the camping site from Gap train station. See you on July 11, 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.