Beyond the vineyard: the dry Stone heritage

“Beyond the vineyard: the dry stone heritage” is a camp based on dry stone works, which were declared cultural heritage by UNESCO. Participants are going to recover a huge stonewall in a vineyard area and also a shepherd stone hut. They are also going to work in a Civil War trenches area in order to make them more accessible to visitors. The main work in the camp will be the recovery of different dry stone works (wall, huts and Civil War trenches). To do this, participants will have the support of experts from CESUB, Subirats historical studies group. They will be provided with all the material needed and experts will contextualize the work they do, the history of the area and the role played by dry stone and vineyards. This will be the principal work but you will take part in some naturalistic and environmental works like nest boxes making or path cleaning. Work areas are close to the accommodation area and participants will be taken there by bus.

The participants of the workcamp will be installed in “ZER Montcau”, the school of Ordal. They are going to use a school multifunctional area. They will sleep indoors and mattresses will be provided. They are going to eat outdoors and a catering service will serve the food. There will be vegetarian and vegan options and as many menu adaptations as needed.

The privileged geographical situation, a plain protected by mountains by the sea, the mild climateof the Mediterranean coast and a permeable land, rich in phosphorus, make the region of El Penedès, the main producer of wines and cavas in Catalonia. This wine history goes back to at least the 4th century B.C. The vineyard structures are thus a distinctive cultural feature of the area, and they have been refined over time. The Subirats area, halfway between the Vilafranca plain and the Ordal mountains, has steeper terrain than the rest of the region. That is why, in this area, the structure of dry stone walls and constructions, which are necessary for leveling the ground and plotting the vineyards, are quite important. Dry stone works were declared Cultural Patrimony of UNESCO due to its historical importance and patrimonial value. Free time and leisure activities will include group games, workshops and cultural activities in order to learn more about Catalan culture and the vineyard tradition in the area. Participants will visit cultural and historical areas and museums in Subirats, a wine and champagne factory and also Vilafranca del Penedès, the Catalan wine capital. They will also visit the city of Barcelona, which is only 45 km from the accommodation area. During the camp, some spaces will be reserved to be able to make trips that allow the young people to know the reality of the territory, as well as its heritage and traditions. Therefore, the following departures will be made: - Two-day excursion with bivouac to the Castle of Subirats. - Visit to the old town of Vilafranca del Penedès. - Visit to the Llopart quarries. - Field trip to Barcelona.