Manufacture royale de Bains-les-Bains, Royal manufactory in Bains-les-Bains, France.
The Manufacture Royale in Bains-les-Bains is a large complex of industrial buildings, workers' housing, a chapel, stables, and a 32-room castle arranged within a tree-filled park. The layout shows the structure of a largely self-contained factory settlement with distinct areas for production and daily life.
The site was founded in 1733 by Duchess Elisabeth-Charlotte of Lorraine and specialized in tinplate production using hydraulic power from the Coney River. It later shifted to horse nail manufacturing in the 19th century, then became a wooden clog workshop in 1914.
The site is linked to Julie-Victoire Daubie, born there in 1824, who became the first woman to earn a baccalaureate degree in France. Her life reflects the unusual educational opportunities that this place offered.
Guided tours operate on the second and fourth Friday from March through October, allowing visitors to discover the industrial heritage of the region. The site is best visited during pleasant weather to fully explore the tree-filled park and the various buildings.
The complex went through completely different production phases: from tinplate to horse nails to wooden clogs, showing how factories adapted to changing markets. Each phase left its mark on the buildings and reveals shifting economic needs of the times.
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