Fours à chaux du Rey, Limestone kilns in Regnéville-sur-Mer, France

The Fours à chaux du Rey are four large lime kilns built against the former working face of the Rey limestone quarry. Their rounded, tapering tower sections are joined into a massive curved wall of rough grey stone, weathered and patched with moss and algae. Two arched openings pierce the lower wall, each with a pale stone rim and a dark interior.

The four kilns were built between 1852 and 1854 to plans by the engineer Pierre Simoneau, set against the old working face of the Rey limestone quarry. Coal from Wales arrived by schooner at Regnéville's beaching port, while local limestone left for the Channel Islands and the Breton coast. Production of lime for acidic farmland ceased around the late 1880s.

The site now serves as the Maritime Museum of Regnéville, showcasing local industrial heritage through displays of historical lime production and maritime crafts that shaped the region's economy.

The kilns are located along Route des Fours à Chaux and accessible through guided tours with audio explanations of the site's historical operations. It is helpful to check beforehand as visitor access may be limited to specific times.

The four kilns were built directly against the old working face of the Rey limestone quarry, so the rock itself formed part of the structure. The site also keeps the remains of a weighbridge (bascule), listed with the kilns as monuments historiques since 26 August 1991.