Engrave his name in a tile to safeguard the heritage. This is the idea of the town hall of Levroux in Indre to restore the Porte de Champagne. The historic monument is undergoing renovations. Before moving on to the roof, the city has proposed to the inhabitants to acquire the tiles.
For 5 euros, they were able to engrave their names on one of them this Saturday, February 5. The money raised will finance part of the work. In front of the monument, engraving stands, with 8,000 tiles in stock, have been set up. The operation, sponsored by Stéphane Bern, is a success. The square in front of the monument was black with people.
Leave a mark in history
To have your tile engraved, you have to queue. Christiane, a resident of La Châtre, is waiting for her turn. She absolutely wanted to participate. “I really like the heritage mission led by Stéphane Bern, in addition, I took a course in art history, so everything in my region appeals to me”says the retiree.
– Justine Claux
Once signed, the tiles will be laid on the roof of the monument. This is precisely what appeals to buyers: to leave a trace of them in history. “It is the idea that the work has of memoryexplains Christian in the waiting girl. When we go to see a work, we keep memories of it, but here, it is the work that remembers us”.
This is the whole purpose of the operation. “It’s really time to leave your mark in historyinsists Alexis Rousseau-Jouhennet, mayor of Levroux. In fifty years, when we check the roof, we will find these engraved tiles”. All names will also be inscribed on a parchment which will be inside the building.
Mobilize around heritage
The sale of tiles also serves to encourage the inhabitants of Levroux to take an interest in the heritage of the municipality. “All our inhabitants will become heritage ambassadors”, says the mayor. The city wants to win the label Small Towns of Character of France. “We must federate the inhabitants around the heritage because it is a vector of life, history and attractivenesshe adds. The more the inhabitants appropriate the heritage, the more they will be proud of it and will be able to promote it”.
In one morning, nearly 700 tiles were sold. The 3,500 euros collected will make it possible to light the building at night and to develop the garden which is next to the monument. In view of the success, the mayor of Levroux plans to renew the operation.
– Justine Claux
“We must preserve and transmit”
Site visits were also organized by the architect in charge of the renovation works. Marc Cioffi showed visitors the progress of the construction site and told them the history of the monument. “It is very important to involve the inhabitants in safeguarding the heritagehe insists. Heritage is our history, it is the trace that our ancestors have passed on to us, we in turn must preserve it, restore it and pass it on..
The renovation work will take another year but the engraved tiles will be laid in a few days.