Château de Montgilbert 1

In this imposing medieval ruin, you will practice masonry to consolidate the top of one of the towers and the castle wall.

You will clear the courses and the list. Some work will take place on scaffolding. A musical party is organized on August 10; you will contribute to its preparation.

Located at the top of a wooded hill, in the middle of the Bourbonnaise Mountain, the Montgilbert castle is an imposing 13th century building, altered in the 15th century to adapt it to artillery. Abandoned during the Revolution, it is today in ruins and listed in the additional inventory of Historic Monuments.
The main chateau, with a square plan, consists of four round towers separated by square towers and curtain walls. In its upper courtyard, the walls of the stately homes and their cellars, kitchens, and the cistern remain. One of the corner towers still houses the chapel. An external wall forms a vast low court of approximately one hectare.

The technical project's objective is the crystallization of the ruin of the castle of Montgilbert and the preservation of its elevations by resumption of masonry and rockworks of the tops of walls.
This year, the planned works are:
- cleaning and consolidation by traditional lime masonry work at the top of the Belvedere tower;
- the resumption of masonry on certain high walls of the external wall as well as the repointing of facing;
- small developments: recovery of low walls, securing, clearing, etc. ;
These works are open to everyone, no skills are required. This site is a good place to learn traditional techniques and skills in construction and restoration.

The work generally takes place over a day interrupted by a long lunch break. This break and the weekly rest day give rise to moments of rest or leisure activities.
Volunteers and animators participate in all the activities of the site: restoration work on the castle, cleaning and storage of the accommodation, preparation of meals, dishes and leisure.
The accommodation is located in a small hamlet 3 km from the castle. The nearest town is Vichy, 25 km away. This project can therefore destabilize those who cannot drop out of city life. For lovers of nature and countryside landscapes it is a real pleasure!

Leisure activities are chosen collectively, according to the group's wishes.
Depending on the session, free time may give rise to board games, hikes, swimming in the water, tree climbing, visits to nearby monuments, sports activities ...