On February 21, the Heritage Foundation revealed the winners of its popular patronage prize.
Arousing unparalleled enthusiasm, the renovation project of the Saint-Gengoux-le-National church, an endangered jewel of Cluniac Burgundy, won first prize.
The inhabitants of Meung-sur-Loire (Loiret) saw their mobilization for the restoration of the Porte d'Amont rewarded with second place.
“All the love I have for…roof”
Listed in the inventory of historic monuments since October 6, 1925, this building erected in the 13th century, which formerly joined Meung Castle by ramparts, presented worrying signs of fragility in the roof and structure.
Before starting work on the roof, the final phase of the project, the residents had the idea of proposing a sponsorship operation called “All the love I have for… roof”.
More than 200 people bought slates on which their first and last names will be written in gold letters.
It is this original initiative which was distinguished by the Heritage Foundation.
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In Meung-sur-Loire, this second place on the podium is seen as a victory.
“It’s obviously a source of pride,” admits a “long-time” resident who wishes to remain anonymous.
“Here, everyone is attached to heritage, in particular to this gate, our threatened emblem.
» Thanks to this price, an additional sum of 8,000 euros was allocated to the city which estimates the total bill for this project at 1.2 million euros.
The Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs (Drac), the Department of Loiret and the Heritage Foundation supported this project to the tune of 460,000 euros, while a public subscription launched on the Internet in December 2018 made it possible to raise more than 97,000 euros.
“From the start, we knew the bill would be steep.
But something had to be done.
There was no doubt about the situation,” said this retiree, who paid several hundred euros on the Fondation de France website.
The work is scheduled to be completed in April.