The Grands Sites


Grands Sites de France the policy

The remediation of deteriorated sites

Over the last 20 years, within the framework of national policy driven by the French State, the most prestigious and most visited national heritage sites have undergone ambitious rehabilitation projects. These projects are part of the “Opérations Grands Sites”* which are partnerships between the French state, local organisations and the people on the sites themselves.

The Opérations Grands Sites are tangible improvements that may include the rehabilitation of deteriorated areas and the improvement or creation of welcome facilities.

They are based on a set of strong principles that must be applied by all the partners involved. These are:

  • The respect of the ‘spirit’ of each site is the basis for any operation on a Grand Site
  • A Grand Site has a dominant role of welcoming and informing the public.
  • The number of people visiting the site and the way they visit it must be compatible with its preservation, meaning that visits must be managed and controlled
  • The inhabitants of any Grand Site must be involved in what happens there
  • Any takings from the visits are to be used in priority to conserve the site
  • An Opération Grand Site must also involve the surrounding region to further sustainable development
     

Currently there are around forty Opérations Grands Sites being carried out throughout France.

* “Opération Grand Site” is a registered brand name owned by the French state.

 

The sense of places

Wednesday, 14 September 2011 14:38

The Grand Sites de France, emblematic landscapes

The Pointe du Raz, the Pont du Gard, the Cirque de Navacelles are just some of the emblematic Grands Sites de France landscapes.

The Grands Sites de France are protected by the French law of 2nd May 1930 concerning “the protection of natural monuments and sites of artistic, historic, legendary or picturesque character”. They enjoy very great fame; most have “three stars” in tourist guidebooks.
 

The sense of places

Sublime or picturesque, grandiose or intimist, captivating or soothing, each of the Grands Sites de France has their own distinctive “spirit”. Great painters, poets and writers like Cézanne for Montagne Sainte Victoire and Victor Hugo and Michelet pour the Pointe du Raz have drawn on this to convey it.

The Grands Sites de France managers joined together in the “Grands Sites de France Network” to pursue one ambition: to put the preservation of the “sense of places” at the heart of everything they do, so that every visitor, both today and tomorrow, can live the experience of the site as described by Kenneth White, writer and founder of the Institut international de géopoétique, guest of honour at the founding meeting of the network.
 

Though the Grands Sites de France are diverse in nature they share similar challenges

  • The preservation and restoration of fragile and attractive landscapes
  • The intelligent organisation of high visitor numbers that have to be managed and contained
  • The promotion of the values of sustainable development

This is why they require active, proximity management carried out by local organisations that are an indispensable complement to the regulations set out by the state.

 

"Les territoires patrimoniaux face au changement climatique"

Retour sur les 25èmes Rencontres

 

The Grands Sites de France network brings together exceptional, fragile, protected and listed cultural landscapes. All the site managers share their belief in sustainable development.

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