Heritage Mission unveils 18 iconic sites in the region

« Restoring heritage means not only renovating «old stones», it means restoring an imagination, a history, the dreams that built them Is there a better definition of the impetus to rehabilitate our buildings than that given by Rima Abdul Malak, Minister of Culture? A momentum that also represents, continues the Minister, “ a formidable catalyst for citizen mobilization ', whose ambition is ' to offer a new life to a place, to open it to the inhabitants, to welcome projects that create meaning and connection ».

It is this same momentum that has led, for six years, the Mission for the safeguarding of endangered heritage led by Stéphane Bern, in partnership with the Heritage Foundation and with the support of the Ministry of Culture and FDJ to be designated each year after the French vote on the platform Missionbern.fr, 18 emblematic sites throughout the territory. Since 2018, 762 sites have been restored, including 108 regional heritage projects. The 2023 vintage was unveiled on Thursday, March 16.

Diversity and attractiveness

Like every year, what strikes first is the eclecticism of the buildings and sites selected. “ For this 6th edition, says Stéphane Bern, these 18 new emblematic sites reflect once again the diversity of our precious heritage: whether it is agricultural or vernacular, industrial or worker, religious consecrated or desecrated, archaeological, castle or illustrious house… heritage is everyone’s business ». These include a Roman aqueduct-bridge at Ansignan (Pyrénées-Orientales), an old sugar factory, at Trois-Rivières (Guadeloupe), the house of Colomba, at Fozzano (South Corsica) and the synagogue of Elbeuf (Seine-Maritime).  

The other important aspect is the renewed attractiveness of these sites. ' Behind every saved sitestresses Rima Abdul Malak, they are committed residents who fight to revive their heritage, volunteers who follow the construction sites, local businesses and artisans who carry the passion for heritage and know-how of our regions every day.According to Stéphane Bern, the ambition is also to if necessary, assign them a new educational and inclusive vocation in order to transmit it in a sustainable way to future generations In short, a major cultural and territorial issue.