The Youth Village
At the top of the Mount Espélugues: a viewpoint of the Marian City
REDEVELOPMENT OF THE YOUTH VILLAGE: A MAJOR PROJECT, SUPPORTED BY THE “LOURDES 2030 VISION”
In the year of WYD 2023, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is launching the complete redevelopment of the Youth Village, which is part of the great future projects for Lourdes: “Lourdes 2030 Vision”
Four areas of action have been decided:
- Comfort and welcome of young people
- Protection of minors and vulnerable persons
- Conviviality
- Energy and environment
UN VILLAGE INTERNATIONAL
The Youth Village is open to all young people who wish to discover the grace of Lourdes. Both its proximity to the Sanctuary and its remote location give each group of young people the opportunity to “withdraw” from the hustle and bustle of pilgrimage life to experience moments of joy, peace, recollection and friendship.
The “Youth Village” of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is located 10 minutes walk from St. Joseph’s Gate. Next to the Cité Saint-Pierre of Lourdes, it is a place where young people can live their pilgrimage in conditions that allow a fraternal and spiritual encounter.
Young people of all nationalities who stay at the Youth Village serve sick and disabled pilgrims from their diocese, meet in scout camps or experience a pilgrimage as a group. The time spent in the village allows them to relax and share what they experience throughout the day, and look back. A team of religious, priests and employees of the Sanctuary is at their disposal. In collaboration with the group leaders, the team ensures that each young person is welcomed in the best possible conditions and that his or her stay is profitable during the pilgrimage.
OVER 80 YEARS OF HISTORY
A peaceful haven of 15 hectares on the heights of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, at the top of the Mount Espélugues, where young people of all nationalities have been coming for more than 80 years to gather and live as pilgrims.
Since 1936, on the site of the old Ferme Milhas (farm), the Sanctuary Youth Camp, formerly called Camp Milhas, has been developing its capacity. Every year, it provides affordable accommodation for thousands of young people in a green, wooded and hilly area. First entrusted to the Scouts de France by the bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes, the camp has been managed by the Sanctuary since 1972, but it really took off in 1976 with the development of the youth pastoral service. Over the years, it has also become a place of life and exchange between young people from all over the world; that is why it was renamed “Youth Village” when it was inaugurated in May 1998.
THE MAJOR WORKS OF THE VILLAGE
1935 – Purchase of the Ermitage and Ferme Milhas
1956 – Supply of water and electricity to Camp Milhas
1958 – Development of the Youth camp (centenary of the Apparitions)
1971 à 1974 – Construction of the main reception and accommodation buildings
1978 – Construction of a first chapel
1985 – Construction of a chapel by the Scouts de France
1993 – Inauguration of the Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Drinking water supply system – Purchase from the Pomès Family of 2 plots of land adjacent to the Youth camp
1994-1995 – Construction of the reception building and the guides‘ accommodation building
1996-1997 – Complete renovation of the “Bethlehem” building: dormitories, sanitary facilities – Creation of 2 kitchens and 2 dining-rooms
1998-2000 – Inauguration of the “Youth Village” – Modernisation of facilities (connection of Radio-Lourdes-Pyrénées by fibre optics, creation of additional sanitary facilities and kitchens)
2001 – Creation of a second self-service dining area – Construction of 2 wooden accommodation pavilions. – Signposting improvement.
2002-2020 – Carpentry and masonry work. Sanitary modernization.
2021-2022 – Study of the perimeters of the overall redevelopment of the Youth Village – Creation of an access road from St. Joseph’s Gate (scout worksite)
2023-2026 – Overall redevelopment
Pre-development program
Creation of a Place du village (village square)
- Landscaping
- Installation of a water fountain (central)
- Improve accessibility to the Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- Renovation of the outdoor restaurant and bar area
Redevelopment of the “Moulin” accommodation building (1103 sq.m)
- Creation of private bedrooms for guides (with bathroom and toilets)
Enhancement of the Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- Creation of a wooden staircase to access the chapel
- Revegetation
- Construction of an outer bell tower
Transformation of the “Cenacle” building into a reception point for Scouts (52 sq.m)
- Rehabilitation of the existing storage area into a reception point for Scouts
- Creation of a meeting room, a kitchen and a food storage area.
- Creation of a wooden terrace balcony overlooking the young Scouts‘ camping areas
Creation of a multi-sport field (citystade)
- Gathering of several sports activities in the same stadium, with free access.
- Creation of a friendly pétanque (bocce) area.
Renovation of the “Bethlehem” accommodation and catering building (666 sq.m)
- Restoration of food halls and kitchens
- Dormitory Redevelopment
- Private bathroom and toilets for each guide’s bedroom
- Thermal and acoustic insulation of the whole building
- Roof insulation
- Exterior Insulation (ETICS) and replacement of exterior woodworks
Redevelopment oft he “Nazareth” catering building (347 sq.m)
- Restoration of food halls and kitchens
- Exterior Insulation (ETICS) and replacement of exterior woodworks
- Acoustic improvement and decoration
Creation of a conviviality space – “Astruc” Area (48 sq.m)
- Demolition of the existing storage area
- Construction of a wooden awning to create a space of conviviality and games
Signposting improvement
- Design and development of simple, multilingual and accessible signage
Redevelopment of the “Cana” catering building (420 sq.m)
- Creation of 6 private bedrooms for the priests (with bathroom and toilets)
- Dormitory redevelopment
- Exterior Insulation (ETICS) and replacement of exterior woodworks
- Acoustic improvement and decoration
Construction of wooden cottages (750 sq.m)
- Replacement of existing tents
- Unique cottage size and model for an economy of scale in manufacturing
- Solar panel equipment
- Participation in Scout worksite
Modernisation of the “Dortoir JL” (JL Dormitory) prefab (185 sq.m)
- Wooden cladding of exterior facades for a better integration in the landscape
- Thermal insulation for summer comfort (exterior walls and plenum)
- Creation of 2 private bedrooms for the guides (with bathroom and toilets)
A redesigned entrance to the Village
- Creation of a turning area for buses and a drop area.
- Redefining the parking zone and stacking.
Redevelopment of the “Emmaüs” accommodation building (489 sq.m)
- Creation of private bedrooms for the guides (with bathroom and toilets)
- Thermal insulation of the whole building
- Roof insulation
- Exterior Insulation (ETICS) and replacement of exterior woodworks
Insulation of the “Moulin” accommodation building (1103 sq.m)
- Roof insulation
- Exterior Insulation (ETICS) and replacement of exterior woodworks
Renovation of the “Belledone” kitchen (22 sq.m)
- Rehabilitation of the building into a shared kitchen for small groups
- Equipment for the cooking and storage area.
The Youth Village on the road to energy autonomy
Sobriety, efficiency and new productions
Making the Youth Village energy self-sufficient is an objective of the overall redevelopment. Sobriety is at the heart of the project. An energy feasibility study in conjunction with the study conducted for the entire Sanctuary has made recommendations. As a place of community experience, the Youth Village will put in place the means to make everyone aware of the need to reduce their consumption.
The insulation of all the buildings and the development of energy management tools (BMS, PLCs) will allow a certain efficiency on the way to energy autonomy.
Finally, new production methods will be progressively deployed (thermal and electrical photovoltaic). Rainwater and grey water treatment and recovery will be used to supply the sanitary facilities and watering of the entire Village.
A redesigned “light” plan
In order to enhance all the Village’s buildings, spread over 15 hectares, while preserving the quality of comfort and sleep, the overall redevelopment plan includes bringing the entire low-energy lighting system into compliance and making it safe.
An exceptional arboreal heritage to protect
The Youth Village was built on a former wooded area. Its exceptional natural heritage must be preserved. A precise diagnosis of the arboreal heritage was carried out on the 500 trees of the Village. Several recommendations were formulated and integrated into the redevelopment plan of the Youth Village.
Maintaining heritage in good condition
Conservation requires regular maintenance and appropriate preservation of the Village’s remarkable trees (oaks, chestnut grove, epiceas, Lawson cypresses…).
Planting for a bioclimatic future
We need to think about a warmer future with more intense heat episodes. To protect pilgrims, especially the most vulnerable ones, and to improve their comfort, wooded, ventilated and vegetated areas will be created.
Planting remarkable trees
The trees of the Youth Village are more widely part of the heritage of the sanctuary. It is necessary to plant today trees that will later become remarkable trees.
1 av. Monseigneur Théas
