The national slate and dry stone meetings in Mende: between ethics and concern about the resource

Artisans bâtisseurs, couvreurs, chambre des métiers, unis pour la filière de la lauze et de la pierre sèche. M. P

Les deuxièmes rencontres nationales de la lauze et de la pierre sèche se dérouleront à l'espace Georges-Frêche à Mende les 2 et 3 février 2024, avec la journée tout public le samedi.

The Lozère chamber of trades, the associations of Artisans dry stone builders (ABPS) and Artisans lauzier roofers (ACL) are actively preparing the second national meetings of slate and dry stone, which will take place in Mende on February 2 and 3, 2024, with a general public day on Saturday. The opportunity to discover these artisanal professions which combine know-how and respect for the environment.  

Pro qualification certificates

Florence Vignal, president of the Lozère Chamber of Trades (CMA), had strong words during the press conference presenting the days, to praise the merits of the meetings: " We can say that this meeting is international, with the ABPS school which welcomes trainees from all over Europe." The department has become a reference in the field , through so-called CQP training (professional qualification certificate), in place for several years: "It was necessary to develop these sectors for future generations. Ancient builders shaped our territories through stonework. We must preserve this heritage and therefore train, she added.

Rarer shale quarries

If the sectors are well in place with the dry stone school at Espinas in the commune of Ventalon-en-Cévennes and at the training center for lauzier roofers in Chastel-Nouvel, it is over the supply of raw materials that concerns are being felt: "These professions are in danger in relation to the resource. The quarries are closing one after the other, explains Pierre Lerouxel, co-president of ALC. And even if the renovation of a slate roof is essentially carried out by reusing it, additional new material is required. "In Lozère, we have two active sites, three in Aveyron. In Brittany, all quarries have closed. It’s a profession that has evolved little. We work so that the careers meet and discuss their issues,” adds the manager. 

To know everything about slate

Lauze is a flat stone of limestone, schist, phonolith or gneiss, suitable for roofs, without major transformation (cleavage, cutting, shaping). #39;was democratized from the 16th century in areas where this mineral existed, such as in Lozère. Slate roofing is present in 47 departments in France, more than a thousand jobs. The market represents 7.5 M€ (4M€ turnover for shale and 3.5M€ for limestone). The slate roofing market is dependent on public policies in the heritage field. In 2022, the ACL launched the first qualifying training courses (CQP) to develop the sector. It places its action in a collective dynamic through the Laubapro program financed by the State, the Region, the Department. with the support of CMA Occitanie. 

If the short circuit is the current trend for food, it also concerns the stone extraction professions. "There is a shortage of qualified personnel. In Corrèze, a slate quarry brings in Spanish workers. And the restoration of granite is being done today in Spain even though we have this material under our feet. We have a lot of work to do on the subject,” insists Florence Vignal. During the meetings, professionals (craftsmen, architects, landscapers, town planners, communities) will meet for discussions on these issues but also on the new markets to conquer and the maintenance of resources local. So that there always remains, in the Lozère landscape, a wall, a roof "more beautiful and more solid”.  

The slate and dry stone meetings, Saturday February 3, 2024 (all public with free access), from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Open days at the lauzier training center (Chastel-Nouvel), meeting space with craftsmen, exhibitions, heritage visits in Mende (limited capacity). Information and registration 04 66 47 66 57,encontres.lauze.pierreseche@gmail.com I subscribe to read more