Fours à chaux du Rey, Limestone kilns in Regnéville-sur-Mer, France
The Fours à chaux du Rey consists of four industrial structures built against a limestone quarry face, featuring three distinct operational levels for processing materials. These kilns employ an open-air design that differs from traditional massive masonry construction.
Victor Bunel constructed these kilns between 1852 and 1854 using Pierre Simoneau's innovative design to produce agricultural lime for western France's farmlands. This facility represented a turning point in regional lime production and agricultural practice.
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 facility features surveillance chambers connected through galleries with secondary hearths, a system that allowed precise temperature control during burning. This technical detail reveals the sophistication of the 19th-century production process.
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