100 French heritages sites to receive funding through lottery funds

A total of 100 heritage sites in France are to receive donations for a total €20.1million from the Loto du Patrimoine (heritage lottery) funds, including a historic theatre, windmill, and orangery.

The Fondation du patrimoine is spearheaded by TV presenter Stéphane Bern. On December 19, it unveiled how much money each of the sites will receive.

Read more: 100 French sites chosen for restoration in annual ‘heritage mission’

Each site can receive a maximum of €300,000. The money is intended to renovate sites that would otherwise be in danger of sinking into disrepair.

You can see all of this year’s 100 winning projects on the French culture ministry’s website here (in French).

The funds come in addition to the €8.1million that was given to 18 other emblematic regional sites during the Journées européennes du patrimoine.

The list includes:

• The monastery tower of Ile Saint-Honorat (Alpes-Maritimes), in the bay of Cannes: €250,000
• The Governor's Stables and the Bastion du Roy in Rocroi (Ardennes): €197,000
• The orangery of the Castle of Mainsat (Creuse): €43,000
• The castle of Saint-Jean-le-Centenier (Drôme): €243.000
• The church of Villaines-les-Rochers (Indre-et-Loire): €231,000
• The mill of Orbais (Marne): €80.000
• The theatre of Giuseppe Tribus (Mayenne): €213,000
• The castle of Bas de Champigneulles (Meurthe-et-Moselle): €280,000
• The old brewery of Ville-sur-Illon (Vosges): €73,000

The Loto du Patrimoine launched in 2018, with a view to raising money for heritage sites across France. It was created by Mr Bern, with support from President Emmanuel Macron.

The money is raised from sales of the €3-a-grid lottery tickets and scratchcards.

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