TEXTILE AND GLASS WORKSHOP MUSEUM AVESNOIS FRANCE

April 10,  2018

I participated in an excursion to the region Avesnois in France near the Belgian border which had been organized for the seniors of our city. Located in the south of the Nord département, it is so green that it is known as "The Little Normandy of the North". A little paradise for green tourism, hiking and cycling... It is an area that was classified as a Regional Nature Park in 1998 and which is famous for its wooded countryside, its forest-covered slopes ...

We only saw this through the bus windows and unfortunately not too much because it rained a lot the whole day.


we were in the green bus

But the purpose of this excursion was not for the landscape but  visiting the industrial life of this region in the past. So the rain didn't bother us too much.

We first stopped in Fourmies where we were served a cup of coffee and a huge croissant.









Nicole waiting for her coffee



In Fourmies, the Museum of Textiles and Social Life is spread in a spinning mill of 1863. It houses one of the most important collections of textile machines in working order, in Europe. Reconstructions and manipulations plunge you into the heart of the everyday life of the working world.



Besides the old weaving and spinning machines we also saw how people lived at that time



To my surprise guns were hanging in the classroom of the boys, who were trained for war at the age of 10 ! (and were ready for WW1)



There were also shops displayed and I am standing in front of the post office.



People had a rough life living in 50 square meters rooms often 5 or 6 people together.



Of course one day at the beginning of the 20th century a union was created to protect the workers.

Our next stop was in the restaurant "La Forge" where we had a delicious meal.





The Trélon Glass Museum traces the history of glass in the Avesnois, from the Gallo-Roman era to the present day. It is installed in the old Parant glass factory founded in 1823. The site has been restored and preserved almost completely. Initially glassware until 1914, it was then transformed for bottles and ceased its activity in 1977.

The furnaces  looked real dreadful to me  and it also was very hot. If I imagine that people had to work in there at least 13 h per day and even children from the age of 6 were employed.



They had to go very close to put the glass inside



The guide explained us how champagne bottles were made ! Imagine the work !



Famous perfume creators had made their special bottles here to store their new perfumes.



Today there are still glass blowers for decorative items



We watched how a glass ball was made




and here a little horse



Some finished products were for sale




and this mask was hanging in the shop it was huge  !