The Conservatoire Variétal de l’Olivier celebrated its 30th anniversary

Born in 1995 thanks to the mobilization of the Amis du Coudon, the Conservatoire is a remarkable space with more than 300 trees, 82 varieties from the region and the Mediterranean basin, restanques and restored rural structures. TRIBUTE TO JEAN-BENOIT ALBERTINI A natural setting that tells as much about local agricultural history as the deep attachment of the residents to the Coudon massif.

An opportunity for Thierry Albertini, the mayor, to pay tribute to his father, Jean-Benoît Albertini, former president of the Amis du Coudon, by recalling his deep attachment to these landscapes: "While walking through this site, I often think of my father. He liked to describe his visits here as 'fresh air, sweet-smelling plants, still-green forests, Sunday walks'. A simple phrase, which says everything about the attachment of the Valettois to this massif that we strive to preserve."

Among the highlights of this celebration, the recent community olive harvest illustrated the intergenerational dimension of the Conservatoire. Thus, children, elderly people, volunteers and elected officials shared this ancestral gesture. 258 kilos of harvested olives produced an oil tasted during the ceremony, a symbol of a know-how that the municipality wishes to transmit.

The 30th anniversary was also marked by the inductions of the Commanderie du Rameau d'Argent, whose faithful presence recalls the importance of the olive tree in Provençal culture.

Finally, the mayor thanked Jean-Louis Masson, president of the Département, as well as Hélène Arnaud Bill, mayor of La Garde and representative of the Métropole TPM, for their support in preserving and promoting the site. Thierry Albertini reaffirmed his determination to further improve the welcome and understanding of the Conservatoire. "Work on the restanques, the daily maintenance of the estate and the restoration of the buildings — including the press — will help to enhance the value of this unique heritage.

The Conservatoire does not belong to one generation; it belongs to those who will come after us," concluded Thierry Albertini, recalling the vocation of the place, which is to transmit, inspire wonder and bring to life the history of the olive tree on the Coudon.