Forges de Moisdon-la-Rivière, Historical smithy in Moisdon-la-Rivière, France.
Forges de Moisdon-la-Rivière is a metal-working facility with stone buildings, workshops, and a former coal storage building arranged along a river in western France. The structures show the different stages of iron production, from powering the furnaces to shaping the metal.
The forges were founded in the 17th century as local iron ore deposits attracted metalworkers to the area and grew into a major production center. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, it adapted to new technologies and shaped the local economy until industrial changes led to its closure.
The name refers to the river that powered the forges through water-driven machinery. Visitors can see how this waterpower was central to the site's daily operations.
The site is walkable and has parking facilities with informational panels marking each building. Wear suitable footwear as the paths cross schist rock and stone surfaces that can be slippery when wet.
Walking trails around the site wind through heathland covered in schist rock, showing how local materials shaped the operation. This natural setting connects different parts of the industrial heritage and helps visitors understand the link between resources and production.
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