Forges de Baudin, Historical monument in Sellières and Toulouse-le-Château, Jura, France
The forges de Baudin are a former iron foundry and listed historical monument spread across the communes of Sellières and Toulouse-le-Château in the Jura, along the river La Brenne. The site is made up of several old brick buildings, including former workshops and workers' housing, some of which are being restored.
The forges de Baudin took shape in 1794 when a high furnace was moved from Frontenay to this site, which had previously been a mill sold as national property during the French Revolution. The first owner, Claude-Étienne Jobez, grew the operation into one of the larger industrial sites in the Jura, before the furnace closed at the end of the 19th century and the factory shut down entirely in 1959.
The forges de Baudin are known for producing cast iron objects that went well beyond simple tools, including kitchen stoves and decorative ironwork that ended up in town squares across France. Workers on the site lived in a close community, with housing, schools for children, and a local currency used to buy supplies at lower prices.
The site sits on the boundary between Sellières and Toulouse-le-Château and is easy to explore on foot, with signs explaining the different areas. A reception space welcomes visitors and offers exhibitions and guided tours.
Even though the site was always called a forge, it functioned as a foundry where molten metal was poured into molds rather than hammered. Among its more unusual products was a miniature toy stove called the Baby Baudin, which became one of the most recognizable items made there.
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