In the columns of Awakening on Tuesday September 10, we presented to you the only Haute-Loire project selected to participate in the Heritage Loto. For this 7th edition, La Française des Jeux has once again joined forces with the Heritage Foundation with its “Heritage Mission” scratch ticket. A gambling game sold for €15 and supported by the Ministry of Culture to raise funds and then redistribute them, according to needs, to the 100 winners of the 2024 edition (one project per department).
In Haute-Loire, it was the Maison de Vinols, in Craponne-sur-Arzon, which was chosen. The owners of this 18th century mansion, Gabriel and Michèle Ferrand, had registered somewhat by chance and this selection had greatly surprised them. “We didn’t expect it, I sent a file without really believing in it,” responded Gabriel Ferrand in September.
Passionate about heritage and their community
Passionate about Craponne and heritage, the Ferrands bought the building in 1999. Since then, they have tried, at their own pace and with their means, to renovate the house. “There were several possible buyers, but when I learned about the projects they were imagining, I said to myself that we had to do something. We talked to our kids about it and got started. This is our retirement project,” explained the president of the Society of Archaeology, History and Geology of the Craponne region.
Since becoming the happy owners, the Ferrands have been investing and gradually renovating these walls which housed Gabriel's old school. After the impressive lowering of a floor to restore its former configuration to the Maison de Vinols, in 2008, the couple had the roof redone. Recently, tiles were laid in the main corridor and in a wing of the house which formerly served as a kitchen and more recently as a refectory for schoolchildren. Underfloor heating has also been installed. And, within six months, new windows should be installed. But, even after more than 25 years of renovation, they still have a long way to go before the Maison de Vinols becomes a place of cultural exchange and highlighting local history. “The work is enormous and the finances are lacking,” warned Gabriel Ferrand more than three months ago.
“It’s a big breath of fresh air”
However, the situation has evolved. And in a good way. “Last time, we were going a little vague. From now on, it’s concrete,” rejoices the lover of old stones. A phone call from Paris brightened up their end of the year. Thanks to their selection in the Heritage Loto and the success of the scratch game, the Craponnais will receive the significant sum of €300,000 to continue the renovation of their private mansion. “We are very well placed, we are very lucky,” rejoice the Ferrands.
Before receiving the funds, the passionate couple will sign an agreement with the Heritage Foundation in January 2025.
According to my calculations, this allocation corresponds to a third of what we have left to invest to finish the work.
“It’s a big breath of fresh air for us. But we will still have to find other levers to close the budget. » And, since 1999, the Ferrands have used it… “It's becoming more and more difficult, we've gone a little bit and we still have loans to repay,” confides Gabriel Ferrand. Even if the Bern Mission arrived at the right time for them: “We were very worried, this good news gives us a boost, but it also obliges us. It's a big responsibility, we're going to have to do the work, because the Foundation is giving us a year to do as much as possible. We will do our best,” promises Gabriel Ferrand.
