Usine du Bouchet, Nuclear research facility in Vert-le-Petit, France.
The Bouchet factory is a historic uranium processing facility in Vert-le-Petit that spans a large industrial complex with multiple buildings. The site was dedicated to nuclear fuel production and remains a significant monument to France's early nuclear program.
The facility started operations in 1948 and produced its first uranium metal in 1949, becoming a key center of French atomic industry. Production continued for more than two decades before the site was eventually decommissioned.
The Bouchet factory represents France's early steps into nuclear energy development, marking the country's industrial advancement in the post-war period.
The site is not open to the public and remains under official monitoring for safety reasons. You can observe the exterior from the perimeter, but access inside the facility is restricted.
The facility operated with significant output during its production years, processing substantial quantities of raw materials into nuclear materials. The scale of this operation made it a major contributor to France's atomic program.
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