Panel 5
Restoration of La Redoute by ADEPMF
The Association for the Defense of the Environment of Merville-Franceville (ADEMF) was created in November 1975 to oppose a leisure center program and the construction of 460 housing units on the bay of the Orne, with direct access from the Dozulé highway.
Among the founders, Noël Lechevalier and Guy Herson-Macarel were particularly involved in ensuring that La Redoute was reborn from its ruins.
In 1978, the building was listed in the Supplementary Inventory of Historic Monuments.
The dunes became the property of the Conservatoire du Littoral.
In 1983, the ADEMF undertook the restoration with the support of the Municipality according to a renovation program under the authority of the architect of the Buildings of France.
In 1973, a group of young people led by Olivier Paz undertook to clear a huge staircase hidden in the dunes with the means at hand: family’s shovels and pickaxes and a lot of energy. In 1989, Mr. Olivier Paz, elected mayor of Merville-Franceville, did everything to revive this historic complex; he will work in total agreement with the association ADEMF for many years with unrelenting energy.
(Panel 1: young people at La Redoute)
It all started with the intervention of the
6th Engineers of Angers in 1984.
The completely peaceful military intervention began with 30 volunteer engineers reinforced by a group of soldiers from Carpiquet.
Machete in hand, the men carried out the difficult clearing and sand removal under the orders of General René Perin, then commander of the 32nd division based in Caen. (Photographic sources General Perin)
(Panel 2: Military Engineering of Angers)
Once the fortress was cleared, the first restoration works could begin.
From 1985 to 2005, work camps for young volunteers from all over Europe and then from all over the world were organized in July and August. They were placed under the supervision and control of the Union Rempart, the Architectes des Bâtiments de France, the DRAC and ADEMF. They learned stone cutting and the reconstruction of walls with lime mortar. The work was carried out with the help of the Dagand company specialized in the restoration of historical monuments.
In 2002, the ADEMF obtained official recognition for the worksite of young volunteers for the conditions of supervision, accommodation, catering and technical organization. Nice reward for Merville Franceville.
Finally, the association was awarded the 1st prize for Lower Normandy from the “Caisse Nationale des Monuments Historiques” and obtained the 1st prize in the Rempart Ouest-France competition at the same time.
In 2006, the association became ADEPMF: “Association for the Defense of the Environment and Heritage of Merville-Franceville” whose aim is to defend the environment, heritage, landscapes and natural surroundings of the town. Its role is also to fight against nuisances of all kinds and to protect agricultural land.
In 2006, at the request of the ADEPMF, under the supervision of Mr. Férauge, the
German addition of the Redoute were demolished, the sanitary facilities and the splinter walls which disfigured the interior of the fortress were removed.
It took almost 3 months to cut 70 tons of reinforced concrete. The Conservatoire du Littoral was pleased that the building has regained its original appearance.
From 2007, the volunteers were supervised by Raymond Garnier, president of the ADEPMF from 2003 until his death in 2020 and the treasurer Charles Stockmans.
Mr. Garnier had these words that still resonate today: “The future of Europe is drawn by these young people from Germany, Yugoslavia, Poland, the United Kingdom, Italy, Russia, France etc. to rehabilitate the Redoute de Merville, a cultural and relational project. What a fine example of civic-mindedness and dedication is given to us by these young girls and boys.
It is by bringing together our cultures and our know-how that we will build a strong Europe”.
Photographic sources of the panels: Ouest-France, Paris-Normandie, Génie d’Angers, volunteers, ADEPMF.
