Founded in 1987, the french charity Athénas is dedicated to the protection of wildlife, particularly the lynx, its ‘totem animal’. The Athénas Centre has enjoyed a strong relationship with Eiffage for many years. The Group helped build the lynx sanctuary, whilst APRR teams regularly liaise with members of the association to make motorway infrastructure more compatible with the animals’ daily lives.

A new infirmary coming very soon

And the Athénas Centre continues to expand. Work on its new infirmary began at the end of 2025: by summer 2026, the 131 m² two-storey building, designed to be environmentally friendly in terms of sanitation and energy consumption, will be up and running. 

This is excellent news for the association’s members, who will benefit from a treatment room, a nursery, offices and more. It will provide the ideal working conditions as the organisation’s activities continue to grow: over the past 20 years, the number of animals taken in each year has risen from 200 to 6,000!

APRR and three other Eiffage subsidiaries are involved

APRR and Eiffage’s support for the Athénas Centre is clearly a long-term commitment. Proof of this is that APRR is providing €250,000 in funding for the new premises as part of a sponsorship initiative – more than half the total budget! Money, then… but not just that. As this project for a public-access facility is complex, its construction also benefits from the full expertise of the Eiffage Group:

• Eiffage Construction Bourgogne-Franche-Comté is managing the site
• Eiffage Energie Systèmes Bourgogne-Franche-Comté is handling the electrical and renewable energy aspects
• Clévia is responsible for the interior fittings and ventilation

A joint investment in support of wildlife, with APRR and Eiffage once again demonstrating their commitment to biodiversity.

Photo : Centre Athénas