In the 1980s, the west side of the keep collapsed, and the villagers realized that their indifference was dooming the Château de Montalet to ruin. In 1984, the Association pour la Sauvegarde du Château de Montalet filed its articles of association with the ALES sub-prefecture. Its aim was "to restore and then use this warlike edifice for more peaceful purposes". Since then, and after 20,159 days of work on the château, volunteers from all over the world have contributed their time and expertise.volunteers from all over the world have been helping to restore this medieval castle, listed as a Monument Historique in 1997.
Every week on Thursdays (between 6 and 8 volunteers), and on the first Saturday of each month (20 to 30 volunteers), restoration work is carried out on the recommendation of the ABF of the SDAP du Gard. One week at Easter and a fortnight at the end of July and beginning of August, volunteers are registered with the Rempart network.
On the Sunday before August 15th, we organize our Médiévale, in which the site volunteers take part and run games for the children.
In September, middle and high schools take part in the work as part of their integration day.
Throughout the year, we welcome groups in medieval costume for a day at Montalet.
Today, as the restoration work progresses, we are planning to create a public space to tell the story of the Cèze valley, at the gateway to the Cévennes.
The workcamps we offer our volunteers provide a comprehensive approach to the restoration work. A minimum of four to five workshops are offered, each led by one or two members of the association who contribute their know-how, availability and skills. There is one supervisor for a maximum of two or three volunteers.
With elementary school, the focus is on life in the Middle Ages.
Middle-school pupils take part in work that requires group solidarity, with each young person becoming aware of his or her contribution to the common goal.
With secondary school pupils and students, we work on autonomy in site preparation, managing volumes in space, sharing this space in geometric volume, just-in-time working, etc?
The integration projects set up with the social services of local authorities give job-seekers the opportunity to receive training and to put their work on a listed monument to good use.
From age 18 Building site at Château de Montalet Château de Montalet stands on the border between farmland and the foothills of the Cévennes mountains. It is built on a promontory, an ancient...
