restoration and backup projects rewarded

The evening of the Grand Prix Pèlerin du Patrimoine took place in a warm atmosphere. For its 35th edition, the event once again highlighted the men and women who are committed to the preservation of buildings and works in danger.

“Saving and transmitting is the spirit of this competition which this year received a record number of one hundred and thirty applications,” underlined, at the opening, Philippe Bonnet, president of the jury and chief curator of heritage. Coming from all over France, the winners traveled to present the restoration projects of a rural church in Doubs or Puy-de-Dôme, a fresco from the 1930s, the moving collection of Breton wax votive offerings, or even the rehabilitation work of the former Jesuit convent of Aleppo, in Syria.

Among them, a heritage apprentice who is training to be a mason, paid tribute to his grandfather, a stonemason who passed on his passion to him. Trowel in hand, he outlined in front of the room the gestures that he is perfecting.

New for this 2025 vintage: the creation of the Monastic Heritage Prize, awarded to the Cistercian Abbey of Notre-Dame de Bonneval, in Cayrol (Aveyron), with the support of the Monasteries Foundation. This joins our loyal patrons who have entrusted the scale of the needs to Samuel Lieven, editorial director of Le Pèlerin.

The presentation of the distinctions was accompanied by musicians Baptiste Bailly (piano) and Matthew Baker (baritone), produced by Bayard Musique. They performed works inspired by plays from the 14th century. Three musical reveries which enhanced the beauty of the star heritage treasures of the evening.