One chance at the scratch, one chance at the draw. After hitting the jackpot in Stéphane Bern's Heritage Loto in 2023, winning the maximum sum of 300,000 euros to renovate its church in danger, the Lot-et-Garonnais village of Couthures-sur-Garonne learned, Tuesday November 12 , that a new check for 100,000 euros will be sent to him to complete the budget.
This new unexpected gain comes from the national collection for the religious heritage of villages. A system put in place by the Heritage Foundation and the State, in the wake of the emotion triggered by the fire at Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral. “We had known for several months that we had been selected for this collection. But we were counting on 20,000 euros. We did not expect such an amount at all,” rejoices Isabelle Chaffanjon, deputy mayor in charge of heritage in Couthures-sur-Garonne.
Extreme danger
The project to renovate the church, whose foundations sink into the banks of the Garonne, is divided into two phases. The first, estimated at more than 600,000 euros (excluding tax), consists of strengthening the foundations thanks to the installation of 106 micropiles. The financing of this project, launched last month, was completed thanks, among other things, to 300,000 euros from the Heritage Loto.
The second phase will restore the framework, roofing and zincwork. The budget of more than 400,000 euros (excl. VAT) was until now suspended from a financing plan that was far from being finalized. With the 100,000 euros collected, the horizon is clearing.
Why has the Heritage Foundation awarded this project twice? “First of all because the site is in extreme danger,” recalls Gérald de Maleville. But the Lot-et-Garonne departmental delegate of the Heritage Foundation also underlines “the super dynamic of the Couthures team which carried out the project”. “It is fundamental for the Foundation to be sure that the project will be carried out successfully. But here, the work has already started. They fully deserve this support. »
