Union Rempart

Union Rempart (often styled REMPART, an acronym for Réhabilitation et entretien des monuments et du patrimoine artistique) is a French union of associations dedicated to the safeguarding and restoration of built and natural heritage, combined with popular education. Founded on 11 July 1966 by the Touring club de France, it was recognized as an organisation of public utility (organisme d'utilité publique) in 1982. Its roughly 200 member associations share the goal of restoring and reviving heritage elements, acting in favour of local development and territorial planning, particularly in rural areas. Most member associations organise volunteer workcamps (chantiers de bénévoles) that allow thousands of volunteers each year to take part in associative projects for the preservation and enhancement of heritage. These REMPART workcamps are not only places to discover heritage and restoration techniques but also places to learn collective life and exercise citizenship. REMPART is a member of the Cotravaux network, of the Fédération Patrimoine-Environnement, and of the 'Groupe des 8'. The heritage covered is highly varied: chapels, forts, priories, castles, mills, lime kilns, railways, gardens, forges, terraces, whether protected as Monuments historiques or simple small heritage. The movement's objective is both to restore heritage and to ensure that restored buildings are reused and find a place in contemporary society; restoration and reuse projects are inseparable. Each project is a collaboration between a local member association and local partners (population, local authorities, public bodies), taking into account the social, economic and cultural environment, available human, financial and technical resources, and the specificities of the building. Projects benefit from support from the State, regions, departments and local authorities, as well as various private partnerships, for example the Fondation du patrimoine, the Fondation pour les monuments historiques (under the aegis of the Fondation de France), the Fondation Hermès, the Fondation Total, etc. REMPART is also the distributor of the 'Monument historique' plaque. Beyond restoration, REMPART uses workcamps as tools for education, training and social or professional integration. Volunteers learn techniques such as stone cutting, stained glass making, masonry, with emphasis on rediscovering and transmitting ancient techniques and local know-how, notably through in-depth training courses. Member associations also carry out studies, building surveys, archival research and archaeological work. Other actions include conferences, shows, guided tours, and publications. REMPART publishes annual catalogues of volunteer workcamps and training courses, and its annual congress is held under the aegis of regional associations in different locations each time (e.g., Aveyron in 2014, Meuse in 2015). The union celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2016. It also acts internationally, mainly in France but sometimes abroad in collaboration with host-country partners, for example in Italy, Spain or even China.

Union Rempart was founded on 11 July 1966 by the Touring club de France. Its name is an acronym for Réhabilitation et entretien des monuments et du patrimoine artistique (Rehabilitation and maintenance of monuments and artistic heritage). In 1982, it was recognized as an organisation of public utility (organisme d'utilité publique). Over the decades, it grew into a union of around 200 member associations across France, all sharing the goal of restoring and safeguarding heritage elements and giving them new life, while acting in favour of local development and territorial planning, particularly in rural areas. The union celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2016. Its annual congress is held under the aegis of regional associations in different locations each time; for example, in 2014 in Aveyron and in 2015 in Meuse. REMPART is a member of the Cotravaux network, the Fédération Patrimoine-Environnement, and the 'Groupe des 8'. It also engages in international partnerships, mainly in France but sometimes abroad, for example in Italy, Spain, or China.

• 2016

  Celebrated 50th anniversary.

• 2015

  Annual congress held in Meuse.

• 2014

  Annual congress held in Aveyron.

• 1986

  Published the first technical notebook 'Organisation et sécurité d'un chantier de bénévoles'.

• 1982

  Recognized as an organisation of public utility.

• 1966

  Founded on 11 July by the Touring club de France.

A union of heritage preservation and popular education associations, using volunteer workcamps as a tool for restoration, education, and social integration.

• Volunteer workcamps (chantiers de bénévoles)

  Workcamps organized by member associations for heritage restoration and education.

• Training courses (stages de formation)

  In-depth training in traditional techniques such as stone cutting, stained glass, masonry.

• Annual catalogue

  Annual publication listing volunteer workcamps and training courses.

• Technical notebooks (cahiers techniques)

  Five technical notebooks published for volunteers and trainees.

• Monument historique plaque

  REMPART is the distributor of the 'Monument historique' plaque.

1. 1REMPART, le patrimoine comme trait d'Unionrempart.com
2. 2Union Rempart - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Union Rempart - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org