JEP 2026 - Dry-stone landscapes in Provence

At a glance

Understanding how dry-stone construction has shaped the landscapes of Provence

Since ancient times, people have shaped the landscape by building with stones laid without mortar. Around the Mediterranean basin, this age-old technique has created a distinctive heritage closely linked to farming and pastoral activities.

In Provence, dry-stone structures have been used for centuries to cultivate the land, manage water, provide shelter, facilitate movement and support production. This lecture offers an opportunity to better understand these features and to see the traces left by successive generations across Provence’s landscapes in a new light.

The event takes place in Cabrières-d’Avignon, a village whose heritage is closely connected to dry-stone construction and the landscapes of the Monts de Vaucluse.

Pierre Sèche en Vaucluse: preserving and passing on a unique heritage

The lecture is led by Danièle Larcena, President of the Pierre Sèche en Vaucluse association. Founded in 1983, the association works to study, protect, restore and promote dry-stone heritage, which is particularly widespread in the Monts de Vaucluse.

Terraces, huts, water cisterns and other structures tell the story of former farming and pastoral activities and reveal how local communities gradually shaped the landscape. The association combines fieldwork with historical research to improve knowledge of this heritage and pass it on to future generations.

This event is part of the 2026 European Heritage Days and the Grand Site La Fontaine de Vaucluse project.