Manufacture royale de glaces de miroirs, Royal glass mirror manufactory in Saint-Gobain, France.
The Manufacture royale de glaces de miroirs is a historic glass factory in Saint-Gobain dedicated to mirror production. The site contains production buildings, workshops, and storage areas that show how glassmakers operated across centuries.
The factory was founded in 1665 to reduce France's dependence on Venetian glass imports. It developed into a leading center for mirror production and supplied royal projects with high-quality goods.
The facility supplied mirrors for the Palace of Versailles Hall of Mirrors between 1678 and 1684, marking French excellence in glass manufacturing.
The factory is located in a rural area and requires travel from Paris or use of local transport. Visiting the site is best on sunny days so you can properly see inside the buildings.
The manufactory developed casting techniques that made it possible to create mirrors larger than anything Venetian craftsmen could produce. This technical innovation made France a competitor to Venice in the European market.
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