Puits des Combes, Coal mine in La Ricamarie, France.
Puits des Combes is a coal mining shaft in La Ricamarie with a distinctive concrete headframe supporting two pulleys for extracting resources from the underground galleries below. The installation displays the technical equipment that was typical for mining operations of that era.
The shaft began operations in the 1930s and underwent three major expansion campaigns between 1937 and 1950, reaching a depth of about 500 meters. These expansions established it as one of the region's principal extraction sites during the following decade.
This site embodies an important chapter in the Loire region's coal mining tradition and shows how closely the industry shaped the daily lives of local communities. The place tells the story of the people who worked here and the central role this location held for families and entire towns.
The site is protected as a historical monument and can be visited for educational and research purposes, though it is important to check in advance for visiting hours. Because it is an industrial location with deep underground structures, visitors should come prepared with suitable footwear and exercise caution.
The shaft used electric pushers to empty the mining cages, a technique that was advanced for mines of that time. Such mechanical systems made it possible to move large amounts of coal daily and made the operation more efficient than in older facilities.
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