Varenne Foundry

 On our way home from Domfront (previous post) we stumbled on this iron foundry dating from the XVI-XIX century. It used hydraulic energy and wood from the surrounding forests. 

After doing some research, apparently this is the best/most complete iron foundry (using wood)                   remaining in all of Europe. 

                                                            

The building below is where the workers lived. 

Apparently there were around 30 people employed here (working directly with the iron). 

Around 100 neighboring country folk were employed for cutting trees and making charcoal. The whole process also relied on over 150 horses to haul everything from here to there.  

I don't know what this manor was. I assume it was where the owners of the forge lived. 

 

For the animals? Pigeons ? Rabbits or other livestock? 

The forge's Chapelle was to the left and the mill for cereals was to the right. The drawing below is what the mill looked like back then, now it's just one lonely wall. 

the chapelle below....

                                            

the mill....

Due to my dubious computer posting skills, it's a bit out of order here, bear with me.                                  This is actually the 2nd step in the process.

Looking up from inside one of the chimneys.

Here is the first step in this whole process. 

This was where the iron ore was initially melted down. 

Below was the last step in the process, La Fendrie. Based off the verb "fendre" = "to split" the long way. You crossed the road from all of the other things we saw thus far and after a short 10 min walk you arrived here. Still on the same small river, the finished bars of iron would be "split" into finished flat pieces, bars, etc. depending on the tradesperson needs. Ex: Nails, horseshoes, blacksmith, etc. 

 

Really interesting stuff. 

I didn't get all the technicalities, but the overall property was quite something. 

I left with the overwhelming sensation that mankind is crazy. 

What engineer found this river, decided they could build all of this, and how hard the work must have been. Made me very happy and thankful to have my nice and comfortable teaching job. 

Good stuff.....

trip to Domfront

 

We visited Domfront, a town about 30 minutes from Chenedouit last week. The castle‘s origins can be traced back to the 11th century. 

The town is built on a hill and most of the old town is encircled by a fortified wall.

This newspaper /printing shop is located on one entrante/gate to the town. 

You can read the sign below....While the people were waiting for the gates to open, they would tie up their horses (close up of the iron circles on the building below) and drink at the fountain. 

Below is the fountain

Here's one of the towers and I assume this was the road 

which had a "gate/toll" back in the day.

No right angles on this door ....

Hard to tell from this angle, but this house was accessable to the street by crossing over this little bridge that they'd built. I love this place, because it was named "the Dink". Like Dinky ? Small? we'll never know. 

Below are just some wonderful store fronts/houses. 

I assume this was the "fishmonger" shop....

A little fixer upper? 

Here's that fish shop again. 

The shots below are on the main shopping street. Most of these places are now vacant and run down, but according to the signs, this was the popular merchant street in medieval times. 

The place below with the red shutters, you'd go up to the window (note the gap in the wood molding) and do your business exchange/shopping.

(All of these types of sign are bilingual. 

If you blow them up large enough perhaps you can make out the English text.)

 c

This was a really cute courtyard with a tower as well as other homes. I wouldn't want to live here if you paid me, no privacy, but very picturesque. 

The sign below is talking about the construction method of the type of house below with wood timbers and straw/clay mixture. 

And now on to the castle of the town.

Don't know what this building was, aside from being very cute.

This is all that's left of the donjon.

The shots below are leaving the castle and heading down the hill. 

I took this shot just because I liked the granite steps:) 

This last shot is after the bombardements of WW2. 

Hard to believe they were able to rebuid anything at all with all of the rubble. 

A great visit, definetly worth going back and spending a bit more time. 

Believe it or not we didn't see everything:)