Ventadour Castle

The castle of Ventadour stands on a rocky spur of 70 m overlooking the confluence of the Ardèche and the Fontaulière, in the heart of the Parc des Monts d'Ardèche. Erected in the 12th century, it remained a lock for a long time on the Aubenas-Le Puy road. This grandiose site has welcomed nearly 7,000 volunteers in 50 years of work.

The external enclosure delimits a defensive unit of 5500 m². The castle is restored according to its 17th century condition. Many rooms are open to visitors. The castration, where the volunteers live, is partly rebuilt.

This year are planned, as an indication, the continuation of the construction of the bell tower of the chapel (masonry, stone cutting), always the maintenance of the path and the surroundings (weeding, clearing ...) and interventions punctual according to the emergency on the parts not reconstructed. ). Work on the tower with watch towers is under study.

The site is open to young people over 18, for a period of at least 15 days. We work 8 hours a day from Monday to Friday, less depending on the heat and the age of the participants. A professional stonemason supervises the participants and trains them in carving and lime masonry.
Life is community, everyone takes part in daily tasks and meals. The accommodation is equipped with sanitary facilities and hot water.

During the weekend, visits to monuments are organized. The environment is conducive to leisure. The castle is bordered by two rivers where swimming is allowed. The region is full of hiking trails and beautiful landscapes. Themed evenings will be organized on site and a library is available. Give up your smartphones!