Placed, since the fall of 2023, along the greenway, at the entrance to the village, the two statues now belonging to the Versois heritage were only to be lit on November 28, but the general impatience was such that they have already been there for several days.
As part of the municipal reflection “Flowering Village” and the construction of the greenway which runs along the village, this long-term file, led by Françoise Rallet, deputy mayor, is thus closed.
This European Leader project responded, in 2021, to the wishes of the municipal council to promote the natural, cultural and historical heritage of the Vers stone, to perpetuate the knowledge of know-how and to enhance the living environment of the village.
It was introduced to European authorities by the Town Hall of Vers and the Local Action Group (Gal) Uzège-Pont-du-Gard, and financed by an amount approaching €20,000, distributed as follows: 64% EAFRD, 20% municipality and 16% Department.
Quickly, a subject emerged, that of a work bringing together, in a single theme, the objectives of the initial project. Its creation was entrusted to the stone-cutting sculptor from Vallérargues, Thierry Lengrand. Originally from the Paris region, he is a former worker in the Vers quarries and already the author of statues in Belvezet and Bellegarde.
The two “consuls” of the city
It was he who suggested the creation of two characters, stonecutters, located in their natural setting; one, standing, holding the edge and the other, seated, the pin and the mallet.
Less than six months were necessary for the implementation of these two statues of 6.5 t, for the first, and 5 t, for the second. The main difficulty lay in the well-known friability of the Vers stone.
In October 2023, the site was installed on site, with appropriate signage and educational panels evoking the stone paths and ancient and more recent sites linked to this noble material.
A year later, entirely solar lighting allows passers-by to enjoy the mystery of the two Versois “consuls”, their eyes fixed on their city.
Midi Libre correspondent: 07 86 03 92 52
