Manufacture de Villeneuvette, Royal textile manufactory in Villeneuvette, France.
The Manufacture of Villeneuvette is a textile production complex in southern France composed of workshops, workers' housing, a chapel, and shops, all surrounded by tall stone walls. The ensemble follows the course of the Dourbie river and preserves its original street layout with paved alleys and water channels that supplied the production facilities.
The facility was founded in 1670 by Pierre Baille and received royal status in 1677 under Louis XIV to strengthen French textile production against English competitors. This transformation into a royal manufactory established it as a major economic enterprise in the region and cemented its role in French industrial history.
The entrance gate displays the motto 'Honor to Work', which reflects the values placed on craft and quality that shaped this community. This principle still marks the place as a center where skilled production was both duty and pride.
The site preserves its original structures with paved alleys, water systems, and industrial buildings that remain relatively accessible to explore. Visitors can walk through the grounds and discover the different areas such as housing quarters, workshops, and the chapel at their own pace.
The Bridge of Love, originally an aqueduct for water supply, carries a local romantic tradition where couples would kiss at its center for marriage fortune. This blend of utility and folklore reveals how a practical structure became woven into the cultural memory of the place.
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