Shopping tips Aveyron

History: At the entrance to the eponymous village, the building itself symbolizes the activity. We know the lonely silhouette of this factory, in which the architect Philippe Starck has grabbed a huge blade. Forge de Laguiole was founded in 1987. It has resumed traditional manufacturing methods. We start the visit by the lobby and the exhibition room. The furniture, as in the downtown store, is signed Starck. We continue through the workshops and the forge (hot), which shows how metal, horn and wood blocks are transformed. Careful polishing, and this is the object ready to expose itself.

Specifications: This factory has made a certain reputation for Laguiole by obtaining many prizes. She made it known thanks to a few designer knives, having made some variations around the silhouette of this object - Starck, of course, but also Sonia Rykiel, Jean-Michel Wilmotte, Andrée Putman, Andrée Putman, Ora-Ïto… -, next to them, the magnificent pieces that Virgilio Muñoz Cabel is doing. Allero (Best Worker of France) and Stéphane Rambaud, the two art couteliers of the factory whose knives are a mixture of tradition and creation. You can also cite the collection made with the famous local restorers Bras. Finally, there are fluo, yellow, green or orange models!

Products: Art cutters, folding knives, table arts, design knives, sommeliers, unusual objects.

Benefits: Direct price out of factory.

Futed: Free or guided tour of the factory on request.

For lovers of flea, the barn of Gérard Caldamaison is Ali Baba's cave. In any case, in the case of old objects and regional antique furniture, the place to know in North Aveyron. First of all, because on two levels, thousands of "pieces" stack up and pile up in a mess that will delight priers. Mirror mirror, stone bazaar, bar stool years 20, Voltaire velvet, Byron's complete works connected leather, clothes parrot, fisherman's bourriche of the s or farm table of the XVIIIe of the xviiith, take the time to dig, browse: all discoveries are possible. Then, because of Gégé, you can buy its furniture "prepared", that is, antique and finished, but also crude (it is much cheaper!) with, in bonus, the pleasure of handling encaustic and iron straw, and feel the turpentine…