TOWERS ON THE HILLS OF SAVOY | CONCF-6909 | 2024-07-26 - 2024-08-09 | ENVI,RENO | Age: 15 - 17

We are in our first year of partnership with the town hall of Saint-Genix-Les-Villages. Since the 1st of January 2019, the new commune of Saint-Genix-Les-Villages has been created by merging the communes of Gresin, Saint-Genix-sur-Guiers and Saint-Maurice-de-Rotherens. The area offers a rich environment, particularly for walking. The commune is committed to promoting its built heritage. The Mauchamp Castle, owned by Luc Revel, is on the itinerary of the "Balcons de Saint Maurice de Rotherens" hiking trail. It is necessary to take a diversion from the main path to linger around the remains of the castle, which offers a sumptuous panoramic view of the local environment and an insight into the area s medieval history.

Work: Come and discover the village of Saint-Maurice-de-Rotherens, home to many walkers on their way to Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle. You ll be working on the Mauchamp Castle site. The aim of the workcamp will be to develop the surrounding area to enhance the interest in the area and make it more accessible for the municipality. You ll be involved in clearing undergrowth, building steps, installing a guardrail and setting up an orientation table for observing the landscape. You don t need any special skills to take part in this workcamp. All you need is a good amount of motivation and good humour!

Accomodation and food: You will be accommodated in individual tents, close to a petanque pitch and a football pitch which you can use in your free time. Close to the campsite is the multi-purpose hall where you will use the sanitary facilities. Enclosed showers will be located outside, next to the hall. This area will be equipped for meals and will be used for shelter in case of bad weather or heatwave. Together, you will help to organise community life (cleaning, activities, etc.) and take turns to prepare the meals, using locally sourced produce. We will be favouring vegetarian meals and will be using local, seasonal products, while ensuring that the diets of all participants are respected and that local gastronomy is discovered.

Location: SAINTMAURICEDEROTHERENS

Location and Leisure: The new municipality of Saint-Genix-Les-Villages is located on the Mont Tournier range, itself situated in the Savoyard Foreland in the Savoie department. Saint-Maurice de Rotherens occupies a vast agricultural and forested plateau on the southern slopes of Mont Tournier (600 to 850m altitude). The village overlooks the Rhône valley to the west, with fine views over the Guiers valley and the Chartreuse massif to the south. Its proximity to the Rhône means you can organise a swim during your stay, in consultation with the activity leaders. A paradise for hikers, the commune is at the junction of 2 long-distance hiking routes: the GR9, which links Vézelay to Italy and is used by pilgrims to Assisi, and the GR65, which is used by pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela coming from Geneva and heading for Le Puy en Velay. If you love hiking, this is the destination for you! The village s history is also marked by the figure of Roberto Clemens Galletti di Cadilhac, known as a pioneer of wireless telegraphy. In the heart of the village, a museum, the Galletti Radio Museum, is dedicated to this pioneer who, in 1912, built the only antenna of its kind in the world, making it possible to correspond with the United States of America from the Fils site.

Airport: LYS

Train/Bus station: Lyon Part Dieu

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 them personally, and will then be reimbursed once back in their home country.

Arriving late afternoon at Pont de Beauvoisin station, there is a TER departure every hour from Lyon Part Dieu station (passing through Lyon Part Dieu, accessible from Marseille and Paris among other places). Train reservations can be made approximately 4 months before departure on the SNCF website, link below: https://www.sncf-connect.com/

Language: eng

Extra Fee: 250 EUR

When working on site, remember to take closed shoes and clothes that are resistant to dirt. Nights can be chilly, so remember to bring a warm sleeping bag, possibly a ground sheet or additional mattress for your comfort, and a pillowcase (you can put things in it and easily make a pillow). You should also take suitable clothing (fleece, mackintosh, etc.) for your excursions. Don't forget sun protection (hat, glasses, cream, etc.), a water bottle, your swimming costume for swimming (lakes, water sports centres, etc.), a backpack (in addition to your luggage), comfortable trainers and a pair of flip-flops. You'll also need to pack these essential accessories: a mobile phone charger and a headlamp or torch. Social events will be organised in collaboration with our activity leaders, according to your wishes. If you'd like to share a little of your culture (recipes, traditional stories, unusual objects, music, etc.), don't hesitate to take a little piece of your country or region in your backpack and a small Bluetooth speaker! On the last day (09/08), the departure time is usually set in the morning.