| The 19th International Dry Stone Congress was held in Krems, Wachau, Austria on the 25th, 26th and 27th of October 2025. The 143 participants were warmly and efficiently welcomed by the Stein & Wein Garten and the Trockensteinmauern Schule sited at Krems and by the Gartenbauschule sited at Langenlois. From the 20th to the 24th of October, the construction site brought together stone masons from 25 different countries. We all enjoyed their restorations and new works, the symposium that followed with its 32 presentations by colleagues coming from 15 different countries, and the two moments of great emotion that marked the meeting. The next congress will be held in Cyprus in 2027. We will have the opportunity to talk about it again but keep you still ready: it marks the 40 years of the informal study group and the 30 years of the formal SPS association. |
The 28th April 1997, an informal reflection group constituted during the 5th international congress on dry stone held at Imperia, Italy, in October 1996, held a meeting at Le Val (Provence, France) and created the: “Société scientifique internationale pour l’étude pluridisciplinaire de la Pierre Sèche”.
On August 2nd 1997, the Society was officially declared in the government journal of France (according to laws of 1901 and 1941 : no incidence of the nationality for the quality of partner or member of the board)
Since then, the SPS keeps the links alive … among researchers, craftsmen, societies and particulars.
On November the 28th, 2018. The Unesco decided the inscription of the Art of dry stone walling, knowledge and techniques on the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. You can see here the decision and the official convention.
