Montlucon both a medieval town

Montluçon, both a medieval and 19th century town

Montluçon, a key city at the gates of the Auvergne region, has preserved its prestigious past dating back to the Dukes of Bourbon while turning the corner of the Industrial Revolution and resolutely embracing a new era.

From the esplanade in front of the castle of the Dukes of Bourbon, visitors can view the entire town. Nestled in the bends of the River Cher lies a town full of old treasures. Around it a modern city has developed and, in the distance, there is a reminder of the Industrial Revolution, the “Ville Gozet” or new town. Montluçon has preciously preserved the traces of its past while adapting to a changing, contemporary world. It has kept its identity as a medieval town with more than a dozen historic buildings. The castle of the Dukes of Bourbon, built in 1370 and which overlooks the town, now houses the Musée des Musiques Populaires (Museum of Popular Music). The town has also preserved remarkable examples of the patronage of the Dukes of Bourbon in its churches and therefore deserves its title of “Ville d’Art”. The Saint-Pierre district and its half-timbered houses and 12th century Romanesque church or the Maison des Douze Apôtres (House of the Twelve Apostles) transport the visitor back through the centuries. On the other hand, during the 19th century the Industrial Revolution transformed the town: its population doubled and the new town, “Ville Gozet”, sprung up overnight.

Montluçon Valley Tourist Office : +33 (0) 4 70 05 11 44
www.montlucontourisme.com

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Petit Trianon

Visitors shouldn’t miss the château de la Louvière, a copy of the Petit Trianon at Versailles, which is used for temporary exhibitions. Art enthusiasts will enjoy the art deco architecture of Pierre Diot and the modern art collection, which includes some of the finest work by contemporary artists and is displayed in one of the most beautiful halls in Auvergne. Festive events have not been overlooked. Two major events stand out as examples of the joie de vivre that can be found in Montluçon: the Boeuf-Villé carnival in the spring and the medieval festival once every two years. There is truly something for everyone !

Flashback : Montluçon at the height of the Industrial Revolution

In the mid 19th century, Montluçon was transformed into an industrialised urban town. The Bourbonnais and Berry regions produced iron ore which, when treated with charcoal from the Tronçais forest, gave rise to a prosperous steel industry at the end of the 18th century. Montluçon then concentrated on developing modern industries. To make cast iron, coal was used instead of charcoal. It was brought in from Commentry on the first railways in France, known as the “chemin de fer à ficelle”. Iron ore was brought up the Berry canal, which was finished in the 1840s. In just a decade, Montluçon became an industrial stronghold and during the 1840s and 1850s experienced spectacular growth. On the left bank of the Cher, in “Ville Gozet” with its geometric layout, enclosed by the railway line, the banks of the Berry canal and the Cher after the Saint-Pierre bridge, industrial and residential neighbourhoods emerged.

The industrial development of the 19th century influenced architecture of the period.
Several buildings display its characteristics. Saint Paul’s church, built in the 19th century and currently under renovation, has a distinctive metallic structure, a tribute to the steel industry of the valley. The town hall, theatre, Romagère square, the remarkable brightly-coloured public baths and numerous buildings in the Saint-Pierre district are all interesting examples of this style of architecture. The Jules Ferry School, commissioned by the Minister of Education, Jules Ferry, in 1880 from the architect Charles Le Coeur is also firmly rooted in the industrial culture of Montluçon at the turn of the century.

Beautiful stained glass

Unknown to the general public, François Chigot, a master glass artist from Limoges, created stained glass windows in Montluçon, whose quality will now be revealed thanks to guided tours organised this year by the tourist office. Between 1918 and 1930, the artist created all the stained glass windows, except those in the chancel, of the Croix-Verte chapel. In Saint Peter’s church, his work illuminates the chancel, transepts and southern door. Unfortunately, the windows he designed for the municipal theatre have disappeared and his work for private homes is not visible to the public.

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Shakers at work

Since 2002, the Shakers have been stirring up the Montluçon art world. The sites of these “vivacious events” set up in the heart of the popular Bien-Assis district, welcome three resident artists every year. Participants must meet only one requirement: they must have graduated from art school. Artists of all kinds and from all horizons (France, Iran, Spain, Germany, etc.) are housed in apartments in the Bien-Assis district and spend their time working on their creations, teaching art classes and, since 2006, running children’s workshops in the neighbourhood.

Tel: +33 (0) 4 70 29 33 11

Saint-Paul, a soul of iron

In 1860, at the request of the workers, the town agreed to build a church in the new town of Ville-Gozet…at the lowest possible cost. The structure is made of cast iron produced by Montluçon factories. Saint-Paul was built between 1864 and 1867, a church with an industrial body and soul where the workers prayed facing a giant crucifix and a Sacred Heart, which also came from the bowels of the foundry. Supported by high, slender metal columns, the church produces an astonishing impression of lightness. The recent renovation of the exterior and the roof has rekindled interest in this historic monument that visitors can discover through guided tours.

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