Project: Come and discover the small village of l’Epine located in the Buëch valley. It is a village that dates from the 12th century and has a rich heritage that reflects a fascinating history. A particularity of l’Epine is that it is not a «perched village» installed at the top and on the slopes of its oppidum (fortified village), but that it is located on its southern flank (adret). It had a shape known as «buttonhole», limited by two ramparts in the north near the castle-refuge and in the south, while the ends - near the doors -were protected by the very thick walls and without openings of houses. The streets were paved (caladées) with limestone stones laid vertically, «de chant». In the course of time, the village was burned down and the fortification walls and the castle largely destroyed by Monfort’s troops during the first wars of religion. The city wishes to develop tourist routes and paths in its old center; the presence of historic calades is an asset that allows visitors to be directly immersed in the historic urban landscape.
Work: Do you want to learn ancient masonry techniques and to register your action in accordance with the objective 12 of sustainable development (UN) in favor of sustainable consumption and production? How to use ancient and ecological materials? For this 1st session, you will participate in cleaning the vegetation that covers the stones forming the caladées (paved) streets. You will have to be very careful not to damage the stones, and you will have to be curious enough to observe the ancient structuring of the ground to be able to read the needs for future restoration (water drainage, junction with adjoining walls). At the same time, you will have a low wall to restructure before it collapses and thus familiarize yourself with dry stone construction techniques (without mortar).
Accommodation and food: You will be accommodated in individual tents in the garden of a village lodge to which you will have access for sanitary facilities and cooking. All your meals will be taken at the camp. You will participate in turn in the different missions of daily life according to a schedule that you will define with the animation team and that will accompany you to carry them out. Community life will be organized together: organization of menus ((vegetarian, vegan and other specific diets possible), grocery shopping, activities, etc. Bring a mattress, a good sleeping bag (the nights can be cool) and a pillow (to be adapted to your needs).
Location: The village of Epine is 8km from the small town of Serres in the south of the Hautes-Alpes department.
Leisure activities: You will take advantage of the natural environment of Serrois and in particular of the numerous places of bathing very easily accessible, like the gorges of Méouge or Riou. You will have the leisure to hike in the surrounding massifs and will be able to initiate you to many mountain sports (viaferrata, climbing, etc.). As a group, you will decide on the activities and discovery outings you wish to set up (subject to distance).
Closest train station: You can arrive by train from Grenoble or Marseille directly at the Serres train station. Carpooling is also possible to Serres because the city is on the road between Grenoble and Marseille. The meeting times at the Laragne train station will be communicated to you on the route map (no times available at this time).