With its 90 members, Tous en chemin rural, based in Saint-Martin-du-Puy, covers the north-west part of Morvan and relies on “a small group” in Bazois: “We want to have referents in all the areas of Nièvre, and raise awareness among municipalities of the appeal of these paths, for tourists but also for residents. These paths are arteries of life, access to nature. This agreement with the Department is important, because it gives momentum to our association,” underlines Benoist Grangier. “It is recognition of our work, and the financial assistance will allow us to invest in equipment. »
For Fabien Bazin, president of the Departmental Council, the action of Tous en chemin rural deserved to be supported as it illustrates the power of citizen energy, already at work in participatory grocery stores or the Territories zero long-term unemployed : “We move into another world, another society, and we realize that with citizens, solutions exist on the issues of commerce, employment, and soon perhaps in retirement homes. Tous en chemin rural would need to have 300 or 400 members to reopen rural paths throughout Nièvre. »
Invaluable heritage, shaped by centuries of use, rural paths inspired the director Laurent Bouit, who dedicated a documentary to them, Des Chemins en commun, broadcast on France 3 and still available in replay (2): “La Nièvre has exemplary value at the national level, through its incredible length and the work that is done to promote it. » Fabien Bazin wishes to go further: “I am going to entrust Patrice Joly (senator and departmental advisor) with a mission to ensure that our rural roads are listed as world heritage. We want to show everyone that this is a major issue for us. »
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