The winners of France’s 2024 Heritage Lottery have been revealed, with four sites in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region receiving recognition, including the Fort Royal de l’Île Sainte-Marguerite off the coast of Cannes.
The Heritage Lottery, known as the Loto du Patrimoine in French, is an initiative created as part of the Mission Stéphane Bern by La Française des Jeux, a game-based project that raises funds to help ensure the maintenance of monuments considered to be in danger, whether they are historical or not.
Since its inception in 2018, it has given new life to 950 monuments. This year, another 100 have been selected, including four in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. The exact amounts each location will receive will be revealed during the European Heritage Days event later this month, but in 2023, these funds totalled an impressive €27 million.
LOCAL SITES
Among the PACA sites is the Fort Royal de l’Île Sainte-Marguerite. The 17th-century fort on an island off the coast of Cannes, which is the sole recipient on the Côte d’Azur this year, spans 210 hectares and houses around 20 people in its 14 buildings, but is in dire need of a refresh. As such, the lottery has reputedly earmarked over €1 million towards the cause.
The fort and the Île Sainte-Marguerite have been the subject of many legends and tales over the years, the most famous of which is that it was here that the Man in the Iron Mask was imprisoned.
See more: European Heritage Days: what to see and do in Monaco
The restoration of historic landmarks such as this can prove tricky, as strict rules apply, including respecting the materials and techniques used at the time they were built. The estimate to repair the carriage entry alone is hovering at around €150,000.
“The Heritage Mission selection committee made a very good decision,” says Jean-Louis Marquès, Departmental Delegate of the Fondation du Patrimoine for the Alpes-Maritimes. “The restoration of the Fort Royal on the Île Sainte-Marguerite is a remarkable project and is the start of a major programme to enhance the entire island. This is a great recognition for Cannes City Hall and its mayor, David Lisnard, for their commitment to heritage.”
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Another location receiving lottery support is the Old Presbytery in Saint-Véran. Sitting at over 2,000 metres above sea level, this site is situated in the highest inhabited town in Europe. The 17th-century church is hoping to receive help with roof repairs as well as a thorough general clean-up. The refurbishments are set to start in autumn 2025.
Listed as a historical monument since 1928, the Pont de la Reine Jeanne in Saint-Benoît is also set to enjoy a facelift. The 30-metre bridge, in the form of a segmental arch that crosses the Coulomp River, is popular with hikers, but is considered somewhat dangerous and in need of renovations, which it can now afford to undertake.
Finally, La Bastide des Bessons in Marseille has also made the cut and will receive funding to help promote the creation of an intercultural resource centre, offering local and international groups, volunteers and young workers a place to learn. The bastide is known as an architectural gem and was originally intended to be converted into housing. However, its usage was changed after the 2018 purchase of the site by the Une Terre Culturelle association, whose purpose is to help disadvantaged individuals integrate professionally into society.
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Photo credit: Mairie de Cannes / Axis Drone