As part of its management plan and in line with its objectives, the Syndicat Mixte du Grand Site de France Conca d'Oru, Vignoble de Patrimonio – Golfe de Saint Florent has decided to launch the «Pierres Sèches» (dry stone) initiative. This involves compiling an inventory of dry stone agricultural heritage, which bears witness to traditional construction methods and practices. The aim of this inventory is to highlight the many elements of agricultural heritage present on the Grand Site and will also enable a list to be drawn up of the work that needs to be carried out on them. It will play a decisive role in the conservation and promotion of the agricultural identity of the Grand Site territory. Finally, it should serve to disseminate good practices in the restoration and promotion of a heritage that is sometimes neglected or little known.
For 10 days, students from architecture and landscape design schools will be tasked with compiling this inventory. To ensure that their mission is carried out under the best possible conditions, they will be supervised by the Syndicat Mixte team and Sud Concept, a company specialising in the implementation of local heritage enhancement projects.
Once the inventory has been completed, the Syndicat Mixte will lead a partnership-based project to restore a pagliaghju, by setting up a professional integration project. This project, which will serve as an example and demonstration of the use of traditional techniques and materials, will act as a model to encourage owners to undertake other restoration projects.
A presentation and launch event was held on 22 October at the Maison des Vins in Patrimonio. Open to the public, it provided an opportunity to hear from the director of the Grand Site de France Solutré Pouilly Vergisson, who has extensive experience in renovating dry stone heritage sites in wine-growing areas.
