When you disembark, it’s hard to imagine that the Moulin de la Gassotte campsite in Saint-Savin (2 gîtes, 5 lodges, 43 pitches), nestled in a green setting, was submerged under water more than a month ago.
Located on the banks of the Gartempe, it nevertheless paid a high price for the historic flood of the river last Saturday March 30 and will not reopen its doors to amateurs for a few weeks. For cottages and lodges, the season is already compromised. Meeting with the manager, Anthony Lefeuvre.
“Luckily, we had no one”
Where were you this Saturday March 30?
Anthony Lefeuvre : “At home, here, fortunately. We knew we were in danger of flooding but we didn’t expect that. In October, we had the exact same forecast and nothing happened. There, she was totally wrong. We were the ones who notified the mayor at 6 a.m. It’s gone up at a speed… Now we’re going to start from scratch, like eight years ago when we arrived. »
What was the course of events?
“On Friday evening, we knew we were on yellow alert, as happens one to three times a year. The forecast was 3 m in Montmorillon on Saturday at 1 p.m. There was a risk of water in the yard but nothing alarming. My wife got up at 4:30 a.m. and in Vigicrues, she saw that Montmorillon was already above the reference flood of 2006. Disaster. At 5 a.m., we started moving things back together and by 7 a.m., the water was already reaching the courtyard before entering the building. At noon, we had 1 meter. »
The water rose to more than a meter inside the lodges.
© (Moulin de la Gassotte campsite photo)
Were you surprised?
” Yes. I had prepared cofferdams which I stuck along the doors but it was already too late, it was going over them. It rose to 1.10 m in the gîtes, 1.30 m at reception. Everything we had put on the tables, raised, was of no use. I was just able to save my big mower. From 11 a.m., we were isolated from the world, the current was so strong. Luckily, we lived upstairs and had electricity and heat. »
The Saint-Savin campsite was completely flooded on Saturday March 30, 2024.
© (Moulin de la Gassotte campsite photo)
And after ?
“The flood peak was reached at 7 p.m. on Saturday. And on Sunday, at 10 a.m., there must have been 20 cm left in the yard. The water stagnated for 4 or 5 days at the bottom of the campsite with 1.60 m of water. Fortunately, we had no one, the weather hadn’t been nice since the beginning of the week. It was the day we reopened the bathrooms. Afterwards, we were supposed to have people on Sunday. A year earlier, we were full. We are not the worst off, the damage being mainly professional. »
For the lodges, which will have to be dismantled, the season is compromised.
© (Photo Mathieu Herduin)
What exactly is the damage?
“The five lodges were flooded, they will have to be dismantled and of the two mobile tents, there is not much left since the terraces were torn off. One lay down, another moved. Both lodges were flooded. Dehumidifiers run 24 hours a day but it’s still not dry. The roads, the electrical terminals, the fences, which have fallen apart, everything needs to be redone. All furniture, doors, bedding, linen and small equipment are out of order. For fridges and freezers, you have to wait. »
How much do you estimate them?
“We have this chance: the expert has already passed. We have listed everything but we don’t have all the quotes yet. We are around €100,000. For lodges, it is between €45,000 and €50,000. The problem is that we are running out of cash and we can’t really advance the costs to carry out the work. We’re waiting to know how much we’re going to get. »
What is the priority?
“It is to reopen the campsite, therefore to repair the roads and the electrical terminals. We hope by the end of May. We will already have a significant loss with the bridges this May. Afterwards, it is the level of compensation which will guide us on the complete recovery or not. »
A dehumidifier runs 24 hours a day in the lodges, which are not yet dry.
© (Photo Mathieu Herduin)
Morally, where are you?
“The next day, it was not joyful. It was hard. Fortunately, neighbors and family help. We feel less alone. On Monday and Tuesday, we had people helping us clean up. Since then, we have continued to tidy up and have routine maintenance to do. »
Are you entitled to compensation?
“We have the right to operating losses. The problem for April is that in the past 4 years, we have closed three times, including two years of Covid. The month of April becomes cursed. It’s still a funny thing but we don’t give up hope of having a great season. »
Anthony Lefeuvre hopes to be able to reopen the campsite at the end of May.
© (Photo Mathieu Herduin)
