LIVRON          Rhone Alpes          July 3 - July 23, 2005
Enhancement works in an old village

Volunteer project: This workcamp is continuation of a project which started several years ago, as the spring, which runs at the foot of the wall, was enhanced thanks to the laying out (barriers, benches, flowers...). The "Amis du Vieux Livron" association brings a lot to the restoration of the old village. It is partner of the town for the implementation of this workcamp. Inhabitants of this area are glad to have another occasion for exchanges.
Volunteers will participate in the cleaning of retaining walls: clearing of the vegetation, digging of the joints; and in the replacement of the missing stones.
Camp language: French and English
Possible free time activities:
- Visit of Livron (the old village, the channels...) with the president of the "Amis du vieux Livron" association, evenings with the inhabitants of the district...
- Discovering Crest (visit of the Tower, old village, concerts...), and of various sites of the Drome valley,
- Many excursions at Valence, and at Montelimar (museum, manufacture of nougats), at Romans,
- Sports: rides, kayak (Drome, hikes, tennis, game of bowls...),
- Excursion in the Vercors,
- Meeting with other workcamps during the excursion to discover the department.
Accommodation: In a house (Maison Pignal), in a park.
Location: Located between Valence and Montelimar, Livron is a necessary passage on road N7, for the holiday makers of the Mediterranean region. Particularly landscapes of valleys, with the junction of the Drome and the Rhone, Livron offers the possibility to do various hikes on the verge of the rivers. The old village located on the hillock, reveals a panorama on the Ardeche and the Drome valley. Livron is 25 km from Valence.
Nearest train station: Valence-Ville
Nearest airport: Lyon
Age range: 18 - 30 years old

   ETOILE SUR RHONE          Rhone Alpes          July 3 - July 23, 2005

Restoration of castle walls in the town of Etoile
Volunteer project: For several years, international workcamps have followed one another in the town. After various interventions on the edge of river Rhone and on the renovation of the old town, this year, the municipality proposes to you to restore walls of the enclosure of the castle. In 2004, the group of volunteers built a low wall to enable the embellishment of one of the village’s entries. This year, the town wishes to build a similar low wall on the other side of the road.
Guided by a professional, you will participate in the restoration of walls at the enclosure of the castle (clearing and removing of the old mortar, rejointing); and in the buiding of an apparent-stone low wall.
Camp language: French and English
Possible free time activities:
- Visit of Crest (visit of the Tower, old borough, concerts and night activities) and of various sites in Drome valley, such as the town of Die (old borough and co-operative cellars), Saillans, Aouste (oil manufacture),
- Visit towns of Valence, Montelimar (museum of the miniature and manufactures of nougat), Romans (shoe museum),
- Excursions in the Vercors mountains,
- Sport activities: rides, swimming, canoe down the river Drome; lake festival at Etoile,
- Meetings with other workcamps.
Accommodation: In the chapel (les Penitents Blancs).
Location: Located at 10 km south of Valence, in the Drome, Etoile (4,500 inhabitants) is a town which overhangs the Rhone valley. Its village, at the heart of an enclosure of the 15th century, reveals an architectural heritage of quality: church, apparent-stone houses, chapel and a castle. As for its countryside, it is characterized by very diversified landscapes (edge of river Rhone and Veore, agricultural and fruit-bearing zones, hills and woods).  Nearest towns are Valence (10 km) and Montelimar (40 km).
Nearest train station: Valence-Ville
Nearest airport: Lyon
Age range: 18 - 30 years old

   ETOILE (EMMAUS)          Rhone Alpes          July 3 - July 24, 2005

Volunteering in an Emmaus community
Volunteer project: The Emmaus community wishes to make known and share its values to volunteers, but also to enable them to discover the richnesses of the region. They want this meeting be a feast.
The work will be divided in three stages:
- first week: participation in the works of the community at Etoile (daily life, welcome, sale).
- second week: prospection at Valence, in small groups.
- third week: collect following the prospection. Be careful! On the last Saturday, selling of the collected items (profits will be dedicated to an action of solidarity).
Camp language: French and English
Possible free time activities:
- Discovery of Crest (visit of the tower, abseiling...), and of various sites of the Drome valley such as Die (old town, and cooperative cellar), Saillans (magnagnery), Aouste (oil mill)...; visit of the town of Valence, Montelimar (museum of the miniature and manufacture of nougat), Romans (the shoe museum); excursion to discover the Vercors;
- Sports, rides, hikes, swimming, canoe (Drome);
- The lake festival at Etoile;
- Meeting with other workcamps, organising of days with a topic, in order to develop exchanges.
Accommodation: Under marabout.
Location: Located 10 km south of Valence, in the Drome, Etoile (4,500 inhabitants) is a town which overhangs the valley of the Rhone. Its village, at the heart of the enclosure of the 15th century, reveals an architectural heritage of quality: church, stone houses, chapel and a castle. As for its countryside, it is characterized by very diversified landscapes (edge of rivers Rhone and Veore, agricultural and fruit-bearing zones, hills and woods). The community is sheltered in a priory at 1.5 km from the village.
Nearest train station: Valence-Ville
Nearest airport: Lyon
Age range: 20 - 30 years old

step here to see our current volunteer openings around the globe

   MONTESPAN          July 3 - July 16, 2005 

Enhancement of the ruins of a castle
Volunteer project: For the second consecutive year the municipality organizes an international workcamp in order to work on the embellishment of a castle. The inhabitants will reserve for you a hearty welcome.
With a professional mason, you will do different works as spade work, building small walls, sorting of stones in order to enhance the value of this touristic place. Other works will be organized at the neighborhood of the village such as realisation of a footpath.
Accommodation: You will be accomodated in a room in a comunal building in the center of the village.
Location: The rural village of Montespan has 420 inhabitants, it is calm and isolated. Near the Pyrenees mountains, the landscape is very pleasant. You can visit the area walking along the footpaths as well as the village of St Bertrand de Comminges and St Gaudens and the beautiful city of Toulouse (at 80 km).
Nearest train station: St Gaudens. The train station of St Gaudens is located 100 km south-west of the town of Toulouse, which is a one hour and a half travel. Montespan is located at 12 km from St Gaudens.
Nearest airport: Toulouse Blagnac
Age range: 18 - 30 years old

   SOULOM          July 3 - July 23, 2005

Conservation of the ruins of a small chapel
Volunteer project: The volunteer group will carry out conservation work on a site where the ruins of a small chapel can be found. The chapel is made of stones, at the top of a hill, in a mountain region.
Camp language: French
Accommodation: In a communal building in the village.
Location: 35 km south of the town of Tarbes.
Nearest train station: Lourdes
Age range: 18 - 30 years old

   POMMIERS          Rhone Alpes          July 10 - July 30, 2005

Restoration of dry stone walls in the middle of vineyards
Volunteer project: It is with the intention to preserve its architectural heritage that the municipality hosted its first international workcamp in 2000. Since then, volunteer teams restored a lime kiln and two martyrdoms. Thanks to the enthusiasm of the volunteers and the many contacts with the population, the municipality wishes to renew the project.
You will rebuild dry stone walls in the middle of vineyards. You will first remove the collapsed stones, and then rebuild the walls.
Camp language: French and English
Possible free time activities:
- Visit to Lyon and Villefranche.
- Discovering the vineyards activity: visits of wine cellars.
- Excursions in the Valley of Azergue, the "Mounts of the Beaujolais" or Dombes.
- Participation in the festivities of July 14.
Accommodation: In the changing room of the football playgrounds.
Location: Located at the south of the "Monts du Beaujolais", 40 km from Lyon, Pommiers is part of the most important places for Beaujolais wine growing. The municipality is also attentive to preserve its historical heritage.
Nearest train station: Villefranche sur Saone
Age range: 18 - 30 years old

step here to see our current volunteer openings around the globe

   REILHANETTE          July 10 - July 23, 2005

Enhancement of a castle site
French speaking project
Volunteer project: The new municipality (elected in 2003) has decided to develop works aimed at enhancing its old inheritance. The repair of the calades leading to sites of the church and of the castle is being done, and the members of the municipality wish to give a new impulse to their projects thanks to the welcome of an international workcamp.
Guided by a villiger and a local employee, you will participate in the enhancement of the castle site. Volunteers' tasks include clearing, sorting out of stones, clearing of access paths and brushes.
Camp language: French
Possible free time activities:
- Visits of Buis les Baronnies (house of plants), Montbrun les Bains (classified village), Nyons (garden of the aromas, distilling, windmills, olive-tree museum...), Vaison la Romaine, discover of Remuzat (house of the vultures);
- Horse-riding, cycling, hikes, swimming in rivers, evenings in the famililies.
Accommodation: Lodging under marabout.
Location: The village of Reilhanette is located in the deep south-east of Drome department. It is located on a rock, near the junction of rivers Toulourenc and Anary. It has kept its medieval aspect, with its beauty and quiet environment, dominated by the ruins of its castle. Dedicated to those who love nature and calm.
Nearest train station: Valence-Ville
Age range: 18 - 30 years old