France
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07/08/2020
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We are a group of people that have founded an eco-village in France in which we mix cohousing, working place and 8 hectars for permaculture and similar agricultural approahces. We have created a civil society in order to acquire the place, an association is taking care of other activities.
We have bought an ancient castle which is not officially under cultural heritage management. The most ancient room has been built in the 13th century. We have 2000m² useable surface, the castle is organised in a square. We would like to embellish the inner courtyard. The interieur however is in a rather variable state and has to be reviewed urgently to match our needs and expectations.
You will be very welcome at our place!
Gardening
Building
Babysitting / child care
General Maintenance
Cooking / shopping
Help with Eco project
Help in the house
Animal care
Ecovillage, life in community, gardening, ecobuilding, shared governance, languages (currently: French, German), permaculture, mulching etc.
Some works will be led by professionals from which you can definitely learn a lot, other works can be carried out by a big number of volonteers whom you can network with.
In 2019, following works need to be done: cleaning up, demolishing and reconstructing walls, isolation, heating, electricity tasks, but also a stabilisation pond, mawing, pruning, constrution of a hen run and a play ground, etc.
In 2020, the exterieur will be prepared for permacultural design, thujas will be removed, other plants will be set instead, and at least one pond will be added.
Generally, day starts at 9am with a daily introduction, we have lunch at 12.30pm, get back to work at 2.30pm and stop at about 5pm.
More detailed and frequently updated information can be found on our website
We recommend every traveller to check or take a liability insurance and, if possible, an accident insurance. Please understand that we want you and us to be on the safe side when if comes to an accident.
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Fluent
We will be very happy to welcome you at the Castle!
You can stay in your tent or caravan or we can provide a flat shared with other travellers. We provide beds and mattresses. Bringing your sleeping bags will be appreciated. We have basic sanitaries and also compost toilets. Note that the Castle is still in renovation, i.e., you cannot expect more than basic comfort. However, count on us to make your stay as nice as possible.
You can have lunch and dinner with us (shared meals) or sometimes you can help yourself in our community kitchen. Meals are mainly vegetarian. Please contact us if you have special needs (gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan...).
We only provide alcohol-free drinks (coffee, tea, juices, water, ...) but you are free to by your own drinks.
A convenience store can be found in the village at about 3km from the Castle, a supermarket is only 10km away.
The Castle is a 20mins walk from the Lac des Sapins away. There you can find the biggest naturally filtered swimming pool in Europe, or hike around.
If you want to go for a cycling tour, come with your bicycles, we will be happy to show you some of the very nice cols near us. (If we have some time, we might even come with you.)
If you like hiking, the UNESCO geopark Beaujolais Vert is made for you!
If you are off for some hours, take a train to go to Lyon (1h by train), one of the biggest and most beautiful cities in France.
If you stay with us for some long time and want to take a "weekend" (i.e., you choose two days a week) off, why not go to the French Alps or the Central Massive in Auvergne region for hiking, cycling, paragliding, ... (We can tell you some nices places!)
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
More than two
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
