Fabrique de céramique Giscard, factory in Toulouse (Haute-Garonne)

The Fabrique Giscard at 25 avenue de la Colonne in Toulouse is a two-storey red-brick corner building with a ground floor raised on a band of lighter masonry. Its upper storey has four windows on the left facade and five on the right, most closed by pale wooden shutters or grilles, and a continuous balcony with a dark wrought-iron railing runs along both visible facades. A low-pitched roof edged with a denticulated brick cornice and a single brick chimney at the roof corner complete the structure.

The factory was established in the second half of the 19th century and became a major employer in Toulouse's economy, providing jobs for numerous families across generations. Its designation as a protected historic monument reflects the importance of ceramic production in the city's industrial development.

The facade is covered entirely in terracotta, a way for the workshop to display its craft. Three monkeys sit at the corners, likely a nod to the slang word "singe" for a workshop boss reluctant to pay his workers. A frieze of antefixes and two arch keystones above the windows carry symbols of sculpture.

The site can only be visited under certain conditions, so check ahead for guided tours or exhibitions that occasionally take place nearby. The location is along Avenue de la Colonne and easy to find, but access is restricted since the building is protected as a historic monument.

The façade itself served as a catalogue: it is covered entirely in terracotta, and three monkeys sit at the corners. The word "singe" was slang for a workshop boss reluctant to pay his workers, so the figures may be a jab at the management. A frieze of antefixes and two arch keystones above the windows carry symbols of sculpture.