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Centre Minier de
Faymoreau
La Cour, Faymoreau. Tel.02 51 00 48
48
Sud
Vendee.. Haut
Bocage.. Coastal
Region.. Marais
Poitevin.. Marais
Breton.. Bas Bocage.. Plaine.. Marais
Olonne..
Tucked away
in the South East corner of the Bas Bocage of the Vendée is the old mining
village of Faymoreau. This village was a thriving mining community from 1827
until it closed in 1958. Today this unique attraction will immerse you in the
world of the Miner.
It was in 1827 that a cobbler named Jonh Aubineau discovered coal while digging a well near his house, La Blanchardière in the village of Marillet, and it was the start of a 130 year mining adventure.
Within a few years the problems of transporting the coal were solved by building a glass factory in 1836 and using the coal to fire the furnaces. The factory produced garden bells and up to one million bottles per year employing over 80 workers.
The number of pits increased so the Society of Mines built housing for the glass workers and the miners. There were also government buildings, a school and a chapel, so the mini city of workers took shape. In 1869 the mines were connected by rail from Faymoreau to Puy de Serre and Niort.
The mines suffered badly from the fall out of the Phylloxera crisis that devastated the wine industry bringing about the closure of the glass making factory in 1883, and with this the production of coal dropped to less than 20,000 tonnes per year. Production was given a boost with the advent of the First World War, so much so that foreign labour, especially from Poland, was hired and production reached 60,000 tonnes and the community reach 1,000 inhabitants.
The Museum. This is housed in the old glass workshops and will immerse the visitor into the life and workings of this mining community.
The Village. This is a small village of miners houses,
The Chapel. This charming Chapel includes specially commissioned stained glass windows by Carmelo Zagari depicting the life of the miner.
Exhibitions. These exhibitions vary from year to year, but in general they are all based on mining and the life of the miner, and on the glass produced here.
There is a walk of some 12km around all the important mining sites in the area.
DATES AND OPENING HOURS 2011
February and March: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 14h to 18h *.
April, May and June : Tuesday to Sunday from 14h to 19h * (opening exceptional holiday Mondays).
July and August : Daily from 10am to 19h , novelty night Tuesday until 23h *.
September : Tuesday to Sunday from 14h to 19h *.
October, November and December: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 14h to 18h * (open during special holidays of All Saints all day from 14h to 18h, the exceptional closure 22, 25, 26 and 29 December).
Closed in January.
Tariff: Exhibition €3
Museum + exhibition Adults €6 Children (8-16 years) €3.5
Museum + exhibition + village with audio guide Adults €8.5 Children (8-16years) €5.5
Return to find more Attractions of the Vendée
It was in 1827 that a cobbler named Jonh Aubineau discovered coal while digging a well near his house, La Blanchardière in the village of Marillet, and it was the start of a 130 year mining adventure.
Within a few years the problems of transporting the coal were solved by building a glass factory in 1836 and using the coal to fire the furnaces. The factory produced garden bells and up to one million bottles per year employing over 80 workers.
The number of pits increased so the Society of Mines built housing for the glass workers and the miners. There were also government buildings, a school and a chapel, so the mini city of workers took shape. In 1869 the mines were connected by rail from Faymoreau to Puy de Serre and Niort.
The mines suffered badly from the fall out of the Phylloxera crisis that devastated the wine industry bringing about the closure of the glass making factory in 1883, and with this the production of coal dropped to less than 20,000 tonnes per year. Production was given a boost with the advent of the First World War, so much so that foreign labour, especially from Poland, was hired and production reached 60,000 tonnes and the community reach 1,000 inhabitants.
The Museum. This is housed in the old glass workshops and will immerse the visitor into the life and workings of this mining community.
The Village. This is a small village of miners houses,
The Chapel. This charming Chapel includes specially commissioned stained glass windows by Carmelo Zagari depicting the life of the miner.
Exhibitions. These exhibitions vary from year to year, but in general they are all based on mining and the life of the miner, and on the glass produced here.
There is a walk of some 12km around all the important mining sites in the area.
DATES AND OPENING HOURS 2011
February and March: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 14h to 18h *.
April, May and June : Tuesday to Sunday from 14h to 19h * (opening exceptional holiday Mondays).
July and August : Daily from 10am to 19h , novelty night Tuesday until 23h *.
September : Tuesday to Sunday from 14h to 19h *.
October, November and December: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 14h to 18h * (open during special holidays of All Saints all day from 14h to 18h, the exceptional closure 22, 25, 26 and 29 December).
Closed in January.
Tariff: Exhibition €3
Museum + exhibition Adults €6 Children (8-16 years) €3.5
Museum + exhibition + village with audio guide Adults €8.5 Children (8-16years) €5.5
Return to find more Attractions of the Vendée
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© Copyright Vendee-Guide.co.uk 2009-10
© Copyright Vendee-Guide.co.uk 2009-10