In Sologne, there is no mountain, no cliff, and no stone quarry. To build, it's a real tile, well, since that's the way it is, we're going to make some (tiles!).
Almost since Asterix....
Well, not really since Asterix, since, as is well known, he is Breton and not Solognot! But, let's say, from his cousins.
Indeed, bricks and tiles are typical building materials of Sologne.
It is true that this region of forests and ponds, if it does not offer any kind of stone that could be used for construction, has, on the other hand, different kinds of clay, and, the clay, worked according to the rules of the art, and fired, it makes tiles, and bricks.
And Asterix' cousins understood that, of course!
An impressive development
At first, bricks and tiles were reserved for prestigious buildings, lords' residences, castles and churches.
The small people of the villages were satisfied with walls made of sections of wood and cob (the cob being, in essence, cut straw mixed with clay).
And then, with the economic expansion, the brick and tile factories that were only about thirty just before the French revolution found themselves at over 500 at the beginning of the 20th century.
And the villages began to look like Solognese villages (!), adorned with all the flamed colours of the bricks...
An impressive disappearance
But, little by little, the construction techniques changed (and there were no more castles to build!).
Result: there is only one and only brickworks in operation, the Tuilerie de la Bretèche. So, of course, it keeps an old brick kiln dating back to 1890, and it is listed in the repertoire of historical monuments, which is always a pleasure, but also marks that we are more from the early days!
That said, it continues its activities with high quality products, the result of preserved know-how. And the list of his references, which can be seen on his website, is constantly growing with prestigious names!
The stages of the manufacturing process
And, in this very old environment, it is really interesting to discover the different stages of manufacturing, as it has always been practiced, the extraction of clay, mixing, stamping, drying and firing. Then to admire the results obtained.
And if you like materials, colours and drawings, don't miss the exhibition of the Sologne Museum, Cera'brick, from clay to architecture, with about 7000 pieces on display!
Tuilerie de la Bretèche
45240 Ligny-le-Ribault
Tél. : 02 38 45 43 88
http://www.tuilerie-de-la-breteche.fr/
Musée de Sologne
Moulin du Chapitre
41206 Romorantin-Lanthenay
Tél.. : 02 54 95 33 66
Céra’brique
Fabrique Normant
2, Avenue François Mitterrand
41200 Romorantin-Lanthenay,
Tél.. : 02 34 06 10 34
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