Les Compagnons du Devoir and the City Livery – Supper Talk

The Compagnons and their impressive apprenticeship schemes have certain similarities with the Livery, but they are nation-wide and are in great demand in masonry, carpentry, shoemaking, baking, coachbuilding, blacksmithing and cooperage.

Compagnons carpenters, along with stonemasons and leadworkers are currently rebuilding the spire of Notre Dame following the disastrous fire in 2019. The Compagnonnage has its roots in the Craft (rather than trade) brotherhoods of the 13th century and have survived centuries of change. As of 2010, UNESCO inscribed the Compagnonnage into the List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

What can the Livery learn from the Compagnons?

Pierre Bidaud is a stonemason and will talk about the commitment Compagnons have to their trade and how this has led to his ground breaking work in using stone as a sustainable building materials.