They will still be at Le Mans, but in a very different setting. The Companions of Duty and the Tour de France will leave their mansion in old Mans for a new construction, work on which begins this Monday, November 25, near Tertre rouge in the south of Le Mans.
The decision was necessary for practical reasons, explains Denis Le Gall, regional delegate of the Compagnons du Devoir: “The companies where our companions do their apprenticeship are often located on the outskirts of the metropolis, new location will reduce trips” in relation to the current private mansion located on Grande rue in old Mans. It is also a question of meeting expectations of a minimum of comfort, points out Joseph Bois, provost of the house of Le Mans: “Currently we have rooms with 3 or 4 beds. In the new house the rooms will be double or single.“
A future branch in South Sarthe
The Compagnons du Mans house offers 60 places in the main building, plus around fifteen in another building, for apprentices who are “doing their tour of France”, a journey of around 5 years, with between 6 months and one year in each city.
With 1,600 m² the new house will be as big as the old one and will always have common areas. A branch is also planned in South Sarthe near Chateau-du-Loir, to get closer to companies in the leather goods sector, the leading sector for welcoming journeymen in Sarthe (on par with the woodworking trades) .
The association which manages the Compagnons du Devoir will put it on sale via a call for projects the building in old Mans, whose facades and a staircase have been classified as historic monuments.
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