The glassmakers' path
Glassmaking has a long tradition in the region: the material was already widely used in Roman times. The Middle Ages were a time of great development for glassmakers, as witnessed by the holm oak forest of the Causse de l'Hortus, which has now completely disappeared as a result of the logging carried out to fuel the glassmakers' furnaces. In the 15th century, glassmaking was a prestigious activity, reserved for wealthy noblemen. These gentlemen glassmakers created glassworks that produced bottles for wine production, flasks and vials for pharmacists, as well as utilitarian containers for everyday use. For the sake of tourism, the glassmakers' trail has been retraced, allowing visitors to discover the villages around Claret, as well as the archaeological glassworks at Couloubrines. This restored Renaissance wood-blown glassworks tells the story of the gentlemen who blew glass for almost five centuries, from 1280 to the eve of the French Revolution. All this history is presented in Claret in the "Halle du Verre", a museographic space entirely dedicated to glass, its origins and its history, from Antiquity to the present day, from the Mediterranean to the Causse de l'Hortus. Each year, the hall also hosts a temporary exhibition and events.
Montpellier earthenware
Since the late Middle Ages, the city of Montpellier has been a major pottery center. Workshops were concentrated in the lower part of the city, where the Verdanson river flows. The workshop of a famous potter has been unearthed in the Faubourg de Nîmes district. In 1725, a factory was awarded the title of "Manufacture Royale". The company flourished from then on, but the death of its entrepreneur Jacques Olivier put an end to the adventure. It was not until five years later that another craftsman, André Philip, brought the company back to life and renown, well into the 19th century. Although the glory days of Montpellier earthenware are now a thing of the past, the fact remains that it was Montpellier ceramists who founded the centers of Ganges, Pézenas, Toulouse and Bordeaux. In the heart of the historic center, you'll find several charming boutiques offering refined creations.
Silk from the Cevennes
The art of creating and handling fabric is employed in many ways in the Languedoc region. In the Cévennes, from the end of the 12th century to the end of the 19th century, the silk industry was the most important in the region. After a significant decline, partly due to imports, this activity began a renaissance some twenty years ago. It was driven by a handful of enthusiasts who reactivated a complete silk production chain, from worm rearing to spinning. Today, this production is destined for haute couture. It would be wrong to think that this is the Cévennes' only weaving industry. In fact, the Aulas spinning mill, built in the mid-19th century, was long used as a cotton workshop. It was later transformed into a carding mill, then a nylon dyeing plant, before ceasing all activities in the 1970s.
The potters of Saint-Jean-de-Fos
As early as the 14th century, the Saint-Jean-de-Fos clay potters made a name for themselves throughout the South of France. The glazed-tile bell tower, gutters and gutters in traditional green glazed clay bear witness to this long tradition. The end of the 20th century saw a revival of pottery skills, with ceramists' workshops springing up in and around the village. The technique of glazed earthenware is still used, complemented by that of raku, stoneware or earthenware. At the dawn of 2000, a dozen potters decided to join forces and create a brand name: Les Potiers de Saint-Jean-de-Fos, a guarantee of quality. Although the kilns have been modernized, and the clay is no longer extracted on site, the master potters' gestures remain the same as those of their ancestors.
To retrace the glorious history of the village and its potters, who supplied most of the glazed tiles and other chenaux for many villages in the region, as well as numerous kitchen utensils and other utilitarian objects, the town hall houses a small museum with some fine examples of this craft. In the village, you'll also find Argileum, La Maison de la Poterie, a playful museum presenting the life of potters, their skills and the history of ceramics; it's also a place where workshops are offered, as well as a store where you can shop for modern creations (tableware, jewelry, decoration...) and thematic books.
The bells of Hérépian
Founded 400 years ago, the Hérépian bell and art foundry has contributed to the region's reputation. Indeed, the Hérault town is the heart of one of France's three companies specializing in the art of bell casting. The Granier Foundry has maintained its artisanal techniques, and its founders perpetuate the tradition with passion and precision, making clarines, bells and church bells of all sizes. Regular tours are organized to discover how this unusual workshop works. In the former Hérépian railway station, adjacent to the foundry, the public can get a better idea of this know-how and its players by visiting the Musée de la Cloche et de la Sonnaille, classified as a Musée de France. The museum's outstanding museography enables visitors to learn more about the secrets of the ringing craftsmen and master foundrymen: the sounding of hammered and notched bells, the lost-wax technique, the profiles of the trussing board, the steel ball imprisoned in the brass bell... Since the 17th century, the talent of these craftsmen and the reputation of the foundry have remained intact, to the point of reaching an international level! In fact, Fonderie Granier's bells have already set the tone for major events such as the Rio carnival.
The weavers of Lodève
Since the 17th century, when Louis XIV's minister, Louvois, created the cloth factory, Lodève has been the undisputed capital of wool production. From this ancestral tradition, the craftsmen of this small Languedoc town have preserved a know-how that is unique in the world. In 1964, the town saw the opening of a weaving workshop, built at the time to facilitate the integration of North African women arriving in France after the declaration of independence. A year later, the establishment became part of the Mobilier National administration. Today, it remains an annex of the Manufacture Nationale de tapis de la Savonnerie des Gobelins, working on stylish rugs and the composition of works by contemporary artists (Stéphane Bordarier, Julier Gardair, Annick Top, Matali Crasset, UngNoLee). Fabrics, contemporary creations, copies of old ones: the town's liciers regularly meet the demands of top French and foreign designers, embassies, national monuments and even the Palais de l'Elysée. Genuine works of art are created using the soapmaking technique. Admirable and infinitely meticulous, this technique can require the work of five weavers over seven years to produce a carpet with a surface area of 25 m². This veritable treasure trove of French heritage can be visited on request, accompanied by a tour guide who will provide you with a wealth of information and anecdotes about this art of great finesse.
Art and craft in Agde and Pézenas
Art artisans are commonplace in the département, but two towns have become emblematic of the sector over the centuries: Agde and Pézenas. Over the last ten years or so, both towns have built establishments to welcome the region's talents, showcase thousands of treasures and create educational tours to enable the general public to meet all these creators of marvels.
In Agde, it's the Galerie de la Perle Noire, opened in 2012 by the Agglomération Hérault Méditerranée, that celebrates exceptional know-how. Every year, it presents two major themed exhibitions, enabling visitors to discover families of arts and crafts and the meticulous work of local players (visual artists, sculptors, jewelry and fashion designers, painters...). Thanks to them, the defenders of tradition and beauty give birth to exceptional works. The Galerie de la Perle Noire even has a boutique where these unique pieces can be purchased. To reinforce this openness to the curious, a discovery tour is available to meet the thirty or so resident designers and visit their workshops.
In Pézenas, the town and the Hérault Méditerranée urban area supported the installation of Ateliers d'Art de France in 2012. They have moved into the new Maison des Métiers d'Art, located in the 17th-century consular house in the heart of the historic center. This choice setting is home to the singular works of local and international craftsmen and women, in four exhibition spaces. Throughout the year, the 300 m² of exhibition space houses one-off pieces and limited series from a variety of disciplines: sculpture, goldsmithing, glassmaking, etc. Walkers can also venture out into the town's streets to discover the many workshops of local artisans. To help them, educational panels have been set up in all four corners of Pézenas.
