2018 Saverne, France

From May 25 to 27, stonemasons and apprentices from 16 countries gathered in the park of the Château des Rohan in Saverne, Northern Alsace, to showcase their craft. This was the second time the European Stone Festival had been held there since 2010. The event was organized by the “European Association of Stonemasons and Sculptors” (EASMS) and its president, Norbert Stoffel.

With nearly 150 participants—predominantly young stonemasons from 16 different nations, including Zimbabwe, Morocco, and Sri Lanka—chiseling away in the castle park, the festival was an impressive display of creativity and craftsmanship for experts and the general public alike. This year, the artists worked with various types of sandstone from the Northern Vosges Regional Nature Park. The sculptures, measuring 30 x 30 x 20 cm, were centered around the theme: “Mystical Creatures: From Unicorns to Contemporary Fantasy Beings.”