Created in October 1971, Les Vieilles Pierres is an association dedicated to promoting and safeguarding the architectural heritage of Semur-en-Brionnais, and in particular the château fort saint Hugues. Restoration work began in 1968, and the monument was opened to the public in 1970, and listed on the Inventaire Supplémentaire des Monuments Historiques in 1971. That same year, the association was awarded the 14th Prix National des Chantiers de Jeunes Bénévoles by the Caisse des Monuments Historiques. Together with Rempart Bourgogne, the association also runs volunteer youth workcamps to restore the wall paintings in the Romanesque church of Saint-Martin-La-Vallée, and promotes the village of Semur by offering a program of cultural events every tourist season. Today, Les Vieilles Pierres is a member of REMPART. Every summer, it takes part in the departmental "Aventure Mômes" tourism project. It has also made a major contribution to Semur's place among France's Most Beautiful Villages and within the Fédération des Sites Clunisiens, which has been awarded the Grand Itinéraire culturel de l'Europe label.