IThree years ago, their destiny was to be razed. At the start of 2025, the market halls of Pont-l'Abbé-d'Arnoult, built in 1905, are still standing and have regained their appearance. A renaissance which would not have been possible without the Stéphane Bern Mission and the Heritage Loto which chose them in 2021 among the hundred sites selected throughout France to obtain fundraising. The mayor of the town, Alexandre Schneider, is still surprised. “It is neither a registered nor classified site. » Fortune favors the bold.
In three days, we put together a file for preselection. And it worked!
It was Amandine Decarli, architect of the buildings of France, who suggested the idea to the municipal council. In 2020, come see the 12th century churche century nearby, she discovered this heritage nugget made of cut stone from Crazannes, designed by the architect Georges Naud and with a metal frame created by a student of Gustave Eiffel. The old market hall is then in danger, closed since 2009 after a stone fell. “In three days, we put together a file for pre-selection,” remembers the mayor. And it worked! »
The metal framework of the halls was made by a student of Gustave Eiffel.
XAVIER LEOTY / SO
He will certainly never forget this phone call from the Heritage Foundation to announce the good news. “We’re a small town, it was amazing. » Obviously, the market is a lucky charm. Calculated for an amount of 500,000 euros, the facade and roof repair project costs less than expected.
In total, 384,000 euros will have been necessary. 35% of this amount was financed by the Heritage Foundation, a lever which encouraged the State in turn to participate up to 45%. The remaining 20% was covered by the Department. A blank action for Pont-l'Abbé-d'Arnoult who understands that she really won the lottery. “We didn’t pay anything. Without all these contributions, we would have had to take a loan over several years. We were happy to put up the plaque with all the names of the funders. »
A follow-up appreciated
Since the first edition of the Heritage Loto, in 2019, one site per department has been selected each year. In Charente-Maritime, the Maison de la Gaieté in Chérac, the Saint-Pierre de Cozes church, the market halls of Pont-l'Abbé-d'Arnoult, the castle of Villeneuve-la-Comtesse, the castle of Montguyon and, recently, the Redoute de Rivedoux-Plage in the Ile de Ré won the cup (read below). At the same time, the Maison de Pierre Loti in Rochefort was chosen by Stéphane Bern at the launch of the Heritage Mission as a major site.
Town of Pont-l'Abbé-d'Arnoult
Before the work, the halls were in poor condition, closed to the public and held together by props.
Inaugurated with great fanfare, the Heritage Loto operation is not just an announcement effect. In Pont-l'Abbé-d'Arnoult, we confirm that the money was released within one year and that a departmental delegate was present at each site meeting. “We were very well supported,” rejoice Jean-François Douet, first deputy mayor, and Benoit Combaud, heritage advisor.
Transformed into a community hall
The elected officials measure their luck. Previous mandates had even come close to destroying the halls to make a car park. “We are relieved. The Pontilabiens are attached to it. » If there is still some waterproofing, electricity and heating work to be done, the market will once again become the beating heart of the city, even if the market will not return there. “The stallholders prefer to stay in the town hall parking lot. It's easier for them. We gained a new community hall. » Concerts, exhibitions, cultural events, rental… On these 260 m² freed from stone stalls, everything becomes possible.
The icing on the cake is that Stéphane Bern himself has promised to be there during the inauguration which will take place before the summer (the ceremony marking the end of the first phase of the work took place in September 2024). The mayor will be able to testify to the success of the Heritage Loto. “I played, I got everyone involved. I didn't win the jackpot, but I won some new halls. »
The House of Gaiety in Chérac
Selected during the first edition of the Heritage Loto, she reconnected with her past. Saved from ruin, the Maison de la gaieté reopened on September 12, 2024 in the town of Chérac. Private and public efforts came together to save this café-cabaret. The restoration project, undertaken in 2022, cost 1.60 million euros, including 652,000 euros contributed by the Bern Mission, the Department, the Drac (Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs) and the Saintes Urban Community. There is still 200,000 to 300,000 euros missing to make the old ballroom operational. A call for donations is launched.
Philippe Ménard / SO archives
The Maison de la gaieté hosted its last weddings in 1970. The atypical café-cabaret of Chérac, between Cognac and Saintes, resumed service on September 12, 2024.
The church of Saint-Pierre de Cozes
Selected in 2020, the Saint-Pierre de Cozes church was hit by the Covid-19 epidemic. His work is still far from finished. They really started in September 2024 with the uprooting of vegetation, the treatment of moss and fungi, the purging of the joints and the cleaning of the stones. This phase of work continued until the end of December 2024. For the optional phase (lower part of the church), the roof of the nave will be partially replaced from next May. There will still be a lot of work to be done during 2025, including the reconstruction of the church's stained glass windows which should take place during the second half of the year.
Jean-Marc Carment / archives SO
Many works still await the Saint-Pierre de Cozes church.
The castle of Villeneuve-la-Comtesse
The medieval castle of Villeneuve-la-Comtesse was selected by the Mission Bern in 2022. Its ramparts, in danger, benefit from funding from the Heritage Loto. Despite regular maintenance, vegetation has taken over. The eastern rampart is particularly weakened. Two years later, work has still not started. The fault, not with the Heritage Foundation, but with the craftsmen with whom the owners experienced setbacks. The light is at the end of the tunnel. The renovation is expected to begin in early 2025.
Jean-Christophe Sounalet / archives SO
Villeneuve-la-Comtesse Castle is an old fort built in the 15th century by Cristy Chamber, captain of the Scottish guard.
Montguyon Castle
Built on a rocky outcrop, the castle has protected the town of Montguyon for almost a millennium. Today it is nothing more than a ruin, but still shows traces of its prestigious defensive past. In September 2023, he was selected by the Heritage Loto. The first phase of the restoration work concerns securing part of the ramparts on the south side, which represents a risk of landslide. At the same time, it will be necessary to reinforce the base of the embankment of the round tower on the northern part. The three other phases will concern the development of the castle itself, from the consolidation and renovation of the different rooms to the development of a complete tourist circuit, interior and exterior. Work will begin in early 2025.
Jean-Christophe Sounalet / archives SO
The medieval fortress of Montguyon sits at a strategic crossroads, on the border of what was the Duchy of England and the Kingdom of France.
The Rivedoux-Plage redoubt
The 17th century forte century, measuring 45 meters on each side, flanked by two wings, was built in 1674 south of the Ile de Ré to face the threat of the English fleet. The redoubt is one of the 100 French historic sites selected in 2024. Property of the commune of Rivedoux-Plage since 2005, it has been battered by time. A wall is indeed threatening to collapse.
Jocelyne Bargain Archives / South West
The Sablanceaux redoubt was built in 1674.
