Place: L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (Vaucluse)

Participants: Adults
Working at height on scaffolding.

Workcamp description:

In the heart of a historic industrial site, which has been returned to nature and awarded the “Espace Naturel Sensible” label, you will organize the safety and restoration of the old Grange Blanche plaster kilns. The wall where the gypsum enters the plaster kilns, beneath the chimneys, is showing many signs of weakness. The same applies to the chimneys of the kilns, which need to be consolidated to prevent further landslides.

Work programme:

• De-vegetation
• Stripping
• Repointing

Building technique: Traditional lime masonry

Special bonus : Nature lovers are invited to Les Plâtrières. The site is located in an exceptional natural setting. You may be lucky enough to spot some protected species.

Event during the workcamp: Summer is a busy time in L'Isle, with a host of unmissable events.

Accommodation:
Accommodation currently being selected. You can sleep in a tent, in pairs, with access to plenty of sanitary facilities and space for cooking and socialising, or in a permanent space, in shared rooms. Be prepared for every eventuality!

Workcamp life:
During your stay, you will be supervised by 2 activity leaders. The technical supervisor will teach you all about traditional building techniques, and the educational supervisor will help you organize your daily life and leisure activities.

Adults spend around 30 hours a week working on the site. Work on the site takes place in the mornings, starting early because of the summer heat. The afternoons, evenings and weekends are devoted to outdoor and discovery activities, providing relaxation and pleasure. Two vehicles are made available to the supervisors to organize outings.

You will take it in turns to prepare meals as a team. You'll take it in turns to prepare meals as a team, giving you the chance to share recipes from your own region and sample countless specialities from other parts of the world. If you're already a “chef”, that's perfect; if you're not... Get cooking!

On all our sites, we want our volunteers to play a real role in their stay, so we invite them to work together to propose the activities and events of their choice, in keeping with the values that the association wishes to uphold.

Some ideas for excursions: Avignon theater festival, Thouzon castle, Pernes-les-Fontaines, Fontaine-de-Vaucluse and the source of the Sorgue, Venasque, hiking in the Monts de Vaucluse, the Luberon, the Nesque gorges or Mont Ventoux, swimming and canoeing in the Sorgue.

A little bit of history:

The town took on its present configuration between the 11th and 12th centuries. The first references to the toponym Insula, meaning “island” in French, can be found in written sources from the 11th century. From this primitive name derives the name still commonly used today locally, namely “L'Isle” instead of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, a name officially adopted in 1890.

Hydraulic power, which had already contributed to L'Isle's economic development in the Middle Ages, would, thanks to the industrial revolution of the mid-19th century, boost the number of factories and contribute to the town's prosperity. Particularly around the Canal de l'Arquet, where 17 wheels were powered by the Sorgue River. The Maison Brun de Vian-Tiran is the only factory still in operation since 1808. Hydraulic power, harnessed by paddlewheels, some of which have been preserved in the old town center, also powered other industries (flour mills, paper mills, etc.) and craft workshops (carpentry, metallurgy, etc.).

In addition, the large gypsum deposits on the heights of the hamlet of Saint-Antoine de L'Isle were behind the spectacular development of the plaster industry. As early as the 14th century, the “gypsiers” of L'Isle were already exporting plaster to the many construction sites in Papal Avignon.

The town was surrounded by ramparts that followed the Sorgue River. These were gradually demolished, particularly in the 19th century, to create courtyards and promenades.

In the late 1960s, industry gave way to antiques. Today, the town is Europe's third-largest antiques dealer.

Conditions of participation

Participation fee: €150

Registration fees: see the website www.rempart.com 

Living expenses include: food, collective accommodation; leisure activities and travel during the work camp; civil liability insurance and association membership.
Not included: round-trip travel costs; personal and health expenses.

REGISTRATION (soon)