Villedieu-les-Poêles, Medieval craft town in Manche, France
Villedieu-les-Poêles is a town in Normandy that follows the course of the Sienne River, with narrow streets where copper workshops and stone buildings from different periods sit side by side. The town also contains a bell foundry and numerous craft workshops that shape its character.
The town was founded in the 12th century when the Knights Hospitaller received land from Henry I of England and established a settlement. This place gradually became known for metal crafting and manufacturing.
The copper and brass workshops here represent living craft traditions passed down through generations of artisans. You can see workers using techniques that have remained largely unchanged, creating household items and decorative pieces by hand.
You can explore the copper workshops and bell foundry throughout the town, with many craft businesses concentrated along Rue Carnot where demonstrations often take place. Walking through the streets on foot is the best way to discover the different workshops at your own pace.
The Cornille Havard bell foundry produces around 100 large bells each year using a mix of medieval methods and modern production processes. The artisans cast bells following traditional procedures that have evolved over several centuries.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
