You
were one of 133 contributors in 2017 who helped to support us on the
first participatory financing operation. Thanks to you the collection
reached 129% of the collection originally planned...
Today we will try to do a little better!
Now, we launch Act 2 of the safeguarding of the Château de Montfa, the historic Fief of the Toulouse-Lautrec family and the high domaine of the Tarn.
Since Septembre 2017, l'association LES AMIS DU CHATEAU DE MONTFA has taken control of the preservation, restoration and valorisation of the Château de MONTFA. With about forty members, of whom about ten regularly intervenes on all work operations, it works day after day to develop the project.
The original project is to make the site a chateau-college. Several axes of work are developed with a pedagogical aim:
- Use the ruins of the Chateau as an open site for young people from professional learning or medical-social insertion.
- Make the castle (a first for france) an educational space for visitors:
- Creation of a Refuge on biodiversity
- Play Space for children
- Landscaping of orchards and medieval gardens
- Use space to eventually develop perennial animation zones:
- Quintaine for horses and shows
- village d'artisans
- Habitat reconstructions
The site will be decorated with explanatory signs for visitors.
Simply because we couldn't resign ourselves to seeing this fabulous estate disappear forever under vegetation. This chateau is an integral part of the history of the Tarn, both by its own history and by the history of its illustrious owners.
Today, the safeguarding of French heritage passes through actions like ours, by an alliance of passions of several people, volunteers, companies, who unite for the conservation and valorisation of our monuments.
Since May 2017, major deforestation and cleaning work has been carried out by all our volunteers.
We
have highlighted all the masonry and started the topographic surveys.
Extensive cleaning work on the inside of the enclosure allowed a lot of scree to be released. The elders of the village mobilised to find old photographs. Thanks to these discoveries, we can now start working on precise 3D rebuildings. (We share photos and surveyed the site by drone, we can now layer the old photos and recreate the elevations as they used to be)
Now
we work together with the architects of the buildings of France and
the DRAC. Our architect Camille Mathieu has begun the work of
surveying and studying the building. The archaeologists who follow us
(GERALH and Cerac Archéopole) carry out surveys and polls on demand.
The architect realizes many readings to date but also an impressive work by making sketches and drawings of stone to stone (by hand).
Many of our members contribute their technical and professional knowledge to the project:
- Antoine Laurent ( Cerac et CNRS) : For the Photogrammetry
- Laurent Chanal (Reconstruction 3D châteaux en ruine): for 3D images and simulations
- Jacques Mathieu, Soizic Foucher (Archaeologists) : For recommendations, advice....
The Château-College project now takes its meaning with the signature of 2 partnerships:
- L' IME (institut médico-éducatif ) Pierre Fourquet de Labruguière, Depending on the APAJH, we help in the preparatory work. 7 Young people under the supervision of an tutor participate in the work of cleaning the masonry in particular. We owe them for the complete cleaning of the access bridge (clearing, storage of the stones, sorting of the various metal parts that were stored...)
- le CFA (centre de formation et d'apprentissage) de Lacrouzette, dependent on the UNICEM network, will accompany us in the heavier work of building reconstruction. The BEP and CAP sections are specialized in stone carving and stone masonry. From March 2018, they will intervene helping us with the most fragile areas.
To follow up on the first 2017 financing operation, we have planned future tranches of work to be carried out in emergency. This work is defined in particular as a result of the recommendations of the architects of the buildings of France.
For 2018-2019, this work will include the stabalisation of the high walls of the north and west facade.
Reconstruction of the top of the wall of the north and west facade
We have pieces of génoises still in place and intact. We were able to collect tiles and bricks. These elements will allow us to remake the identical materials missing using heritage companies .
The work will be carried out on the complete restoration of the genoeses after restoration of the upper walls. A strip of lead will also be fitted into the masonry to avoid water ingress. Beyond an aesthetic improvement, these works are also necessary to stabilize the walls and avoid the disintegration of mortars and plasters.
Breakdown of funding :
- 4000 euros for Rental of Cherry Picker/Basket Crane Machinery
- 3000 euros for Cost of the fabrication of. bricks (20*20*3.5)
- 2000 euros for other Materials (Sand and Chalk)
- 1000 euros for Bands of Lead.
In order to reduce costs, we have already been able to recover some identical tiles from the site. The stones necessary for the rebuilding of the high walls are also on site.
(The cost of labor is nil since it is realized by our apprentices and/or volunteers)
For 1,000 euros more than Level One- Porte de la Chapelle (Door of the Chapel)
Worked out in the following way:
- The Manufacture of an old studded door
Here
we will work with a local craftsman for the wooded part and we are in
project for a partnership with high school students (Ironworks
section) for the metal parts
for 4.000 euros more than Level n°2 - Repairations of the Breadoven/Furnaces.
Worked out in the following way:
- 500 euros, To manufacture the formwork of the vaults
- 1000 euros, For bricks and carved stones
- 2500 euros, For materials (sand and chalk)
The project aims to put the furnaces back into operation and thus be able to create in time convivial moments with the inhabitants and/or the visitors.
For 2.000 euros more than Level n°3 - Shelters for the artisans of the chateau.
Worked out in the following way :
- 1770 euros, Three-sided closed shelter purchases (590 euros *3)
- 230 euros, transportation costs
These wooden shelters will allow to welcome craftsmen during the demonstrations but also to expose the ancient tools used by medieval craftsmen. 3 shelters will be arranged as follows:
- Blacksmith's Shelter
- Stone Cutter Shelter
- Weaver's Shelter
Information panels will be made by the association to explain ancient origins, techniques and customs (educational pathways of visitors)
The project aims, for example, to recreate a lime kiln where local schools will be able to discover the manufacture of limechalk.
The additional funds will be used for the further development of the site. Purchase of materials (sand and lime) for the stabalisation of all masonry elements reducing the risk of progressive degradation due to the weather.
Via the Internet: SITE OFFICIEL du chateau de Montfa
Facebook : PAGE OFFICIELLE du Chateau de Montfa
Instagram : PAGE OFFICIELLE des PHOTOS INSTAGRAM
Email : [email protected]
To date, more than 920 followers follow us on Instagram and Facebook and dozens of weekly connections via the website.
We have also now added YOU TUBE channel (accessible via the website) that allows you to find small films about our work, actions, interviews, presentations....
Several amazing people are already supporting us. They have trusted us from the beginning and are actively involved in the project.
Local businesses:
Local Archaeology associations and organizations :
Local and national Tourism partners:
Websites, blog and others have also joined the project and help us by relaying our actions, helping us technically... We warmly thank them for their support :
- John STARR : Facebook : Abandoned-France / Internet : Abandoned-France.com
- Laurent CHANAL : Facebook Reconstruction in 3D chateaux in ruin
We have been able to benefit from many supports in the press. Several newspapers and radios have relayed and valued our project:
LOCAL RADIO :
LOCAL NEWPAPERS:
Article LA DEPECHE DU MIDI du 23/07/2017
Article LA DEPECHE DU MIDI du 14/08/2017
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL NEWSPAPERS
Article sur le FIGARO INVESTISSEMENT du 26/07/2017
Article sur le journal canadien LE DEVOIR du 09/12/2017
A big thank you to Julien Marquis and adopte un château, Who talked about our project in these different articles that were devoted to them.
When television visited us....
Thank you to Jean-Wilfried FORQUES and RMC Découverte For this exchange in the rain.
A big thank you to all of you who have participated so far in this fabulous project, both by your financial assistance and by the relay of posts and photos that you done with your loved ones or acquaintances.
