Information about the object:
The Les Champeaux cemetery in Montmorency is the largest Polish necropolis in France. It was founded in the early 17th century. One of the first Poles buried here was Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz (1841). Since then, 276 Polish gravestones have been preserved in the cemetery (including those of Norwid, Zygmunt Kaczkowski, Delfina Potocka and Karol Kniaziewicz). It is sometimes referred to as the Polish Necropolis or the Pantheon of Polish Emigration.

Completed works:

2020
As part of the project, preventive and conservation work was carried out on seven objects.

1. T. Makowski - protection of a metal element
2. C. Godebski - washing, surface protection
3. A. Stryjeński - painting of letters
4. W. A. Górecki - construction work: dismantling the left and right corners of the tomb field, repairing the foundations, clamping the corners, painting the letters - repairs, waterproofing
5. D. Potocka - installation of mineral putty on limestone and concrete elements, impregnation of marble and waxing
6. T.z Pajor - cross cracked, replacement of corroding steel bolt is necessary to reduce possible damage as a result of the fall of the cross
7. Fr Kiedrowski - replacement of rusted brackets with brass ones

2022
The task, which involved 8 volunteers from Poland under the supervision of Professor Janusz Smaza and with the support of Jakub Kurkiewicz, M.A., took place between 24 June and 11 July 2022.

The volunteers worked at Les Champeaux cemetery in Montmorency, France. Their tasks included: completing the conservation of five gravestones (Tadeusz Pajor [H1565], Jan Matyjasik [A1196], Tadeusz Twardowski [A1197], Karol Sienkiewicz [B812] and the urn of the Katyn Land), preparing work programmes for the following years and preliminary work on 4 gravestones (Seweryna Duchińska [G3-927], Leon Wrześniewski [C7-559], Alojzy Władysław Strzembosz [E4-142] and Jerome Hieronimko [E6-90]) and minor repair work on the tombstone of Tadeusz Makowski (F-646).

2024
The project continued the preventive and restoration, reconnaissance and research work started in 2022:

I. Completion of preventive, conservation and restoration work:

• Seweryna Duchinska (G3-927),
• Leon Wrześniewski (C7-559),
• Alojzy Władysław Strzembosz (E4-142),
• Jerome Hieronimko (E6-90).

II. Completion of an inventory and commencement of preventive conservation and restoration work:

• Janusz Gąsiorowski (G2-922 bis).

III. Carrying out preliminary inventories, preparing assumptions and guidelines for 2-3 objects (most damaged) for the following seasons.

Volunteers were 4 people from the Conservation Department of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw and 4 people from the recruitment.

Funding: Polonika Institute programme "Polish cultural heritage abroad - volunteering".

More about the project: https://polonika.pl/programy/programy-grantowe/programy-grantowe-instytutu/praktyki-terenowe-przy-polskich-nagrobkach-na

https://polonika.pl/programy/programy-grantowe/programy-grantowe-instytutu/308614917

• Fundacja „Pomoc Polakom na Wschodzie”, realizacja w roku 2020, 2022 i 2024