CATHAR COUNTRY MEDIEVAL HERITAGE I | CONCF-3103 | 2024-07-10 - 2024-07-31 | RENO,CULT | Age: 18 - 99

The municipality is committed to restoring its local heritage through international workcamps. You will be the fourth generation of international volunteers to come to Cadalen. The dwellers of the Tarn are attached to its history and culture. After your involvement on this camp and for many years to camp, several workcamps will be taking place in Cadalen. The local people will be happy to share the local tales and legends of the land throughout the centuries. Come back again in a few years to see how much your work has impacted the local community!

Work: Come to discover the rural South of France throughout the ages at Cadalen! It will take you back a thousand years to the Middle Ages, times of templars, cathars, knights and legends. Located in the center of Tarn County, the Heart of Occitanie, you will be at the crossroads of several natural and cultural regions, all with their own history and legends. Cadalen’s medieval church – a historical monument - is nowadays in ruins. You will be the fourth generation of volunteers to start its renovation. You will learn traditional masonry techniques. Accompanied by a technical facilitator you will rebuild a wall that used to be part of the town’s church. Attention: part of the work will be carried out at height on scaffoldings. In the rural Tarn you will discover the deep Douce France.

Accomodation and food: You will be accommodated in an individual tent, with access to toilets, shower and kitchen. The group will be sharing the cleaning chores and preparing meals together. The budget will be allocated to the group leader and you will participate in the grocery shopping and in the preparation of meals, prioritizing products from the market and local producers. Please bring your sleeping bag and mat. You will wash your clothes and other items manually. Wifi is not available, French volunteers can share their internet connections via a hotspot.

Location: CADALEN

Location and Leisure: You will be located at the center of Tarn County, in the Southwest of France, with remarkable natural and man-made heritage. The Tarn is a very rural area, made of sunbathed hills and valleys covered by small fields and forests. The beauty and diversity of this countryside presents a great historical, architectural and environmental interest. Outdoors activities such as hiking, archeology visits are possible. Not far from Cadalen is the UNESCO Heritage city of Albi, where life goes on pretty much as it has since centuries ago, with one of the world’s most impressive cathedrals. You will be able to visit several castles and medieval landmarks, such as nearby Cordes Sur Ciel town, where international volunteers have also worked.

Airport: TLS

Train/Bus station: Albi Train Station

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 arise on the project, volunteers will have to pay for them, and will then be reimbursed once back in their home country.

The meeting point is ALBI Train Station on the 10th of July at 6 PM. There are regular trains to ALBI from TOULOUSE Matabiau station. From PARIS, you can take the train from Montparnasse train station to TOULOUSE Matabiau train station, regular departures are scheduled throughout the day (about every hour). The trip last for about 4.5 hours, once in TOULOUSE Matabiau train station.Trains are open to booking about 4 months before the departure dates, available on the following website: https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/ If you are coming first by plane, remember that you will need some time to commute from the airport to the train station, therefore we recommend that you arrive early enough for you not to rush and have a stress free travel. If possible, please consider using low-carbon transportation (train and bus rather than aeroplane) for a sustainable international workcamp.

Language: eng

Extra Fee: 0

Consider taking clothes and footwear for work and hiking (including rain clothes). Bring a warm sleeping bag and a good mattress (you will be sleeping in tents), the nights are sometimes cool and humid but if you want, you can bring your own tent. And remember to take a bathing suit in case of a possible swim. Don’t hesitate to bring home specialties, photos, games, musical instruments, etc. Work will be on scaffoldings, which can be difficult for someone who suffers from vertigo. The departure date is set on the last day (31/07) usually in the morning.