Ecuisses Villa Perrusson 181 @lesley Williamson Hd

At Villa Perrusson

embark on the Belle Époque!

Nestled at the end of a cul-de-sac in the village of Écuisses, a stone’s throw from the Canal du Centre, lies the treasure of the Vallée de la Céramique, Villa Perrusson.

Step through the entrance gate into the garden and discover an astonishing residence of exuberant architecture, entirely restored.

Let us guide you

Whether you’re an architecture buff or a nature enthusiast, a fan of decorative ceramics or a lover of bucolic gardens, you’re sure to marvel at the jewel in the crown of the Vallée de la Céramique.

The Perrusson-Desfontaines family

ceramic contractors

The Perrusson adventure began in 1860, when Jean-Marie Perrusson, the son of a canal boatman, decided to enter the ceramics industry, making bricks, tiles and decorative ceramics from locally quarried clay. Success was immediate and the company prospered, employing up to 750 workers. Perrusson’s tiles, ceramics and statues enjoyed national renown, and were even exhibited at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1889.

The Villa Perrusson perfectly illustrates the success, business acumen and communication skills of this entrepreneurial family. Building on their success, in 1869 they commissioned the construction of a bourgeois residence surrounded by a garden, just a stone’s throw from their factory. Between 1892 and 1895, the house was enlarged with the addition of a second, richly ornamented pavilion overlooking the railroad tracks running alongside the property. At the same time, the facades and roofs of the first building were redecorated.

Villa Perrusson and its water mirror, Écuisses.

Ceramics in all their forms

Profusion of ornaments on the villa

Detail of the façade of Villa Perrusson, Écuisses.

A unique catalog house

But why build such a beautiful home next to a railroad?

In the 19^th century, the railroad was synonymous with modernity. The station was also close by, so travelers arriving by train had plenty of time to admire the villa’s roofs and facades.

The aim is precisely to seduce and impress visitors and potential customers. Many of the company’s products are shown in real-life situations, and everyone can admire the variety and quality of the products. A true showroom before its time, integrated into a marketing strategy that was highly innovative for its time!

Discover now

inside the villa

After a long and painstaking restoration project lasting several years, the Villa Perrusson has been open to the public in its entirety since spring 2023.

Take a tour of the villa’s interiors. Here again, ceramic ornamentation is omnipresent: paving, panelling, ceilings, fireplaces – everything is a pretext for demonstrating the expertise of the Perrusson company.

Admire the furnished and decorated rooms and soak up the hushed atmosphere of a Belle Époque bourgeois apartment. It’s as if the occupants were away for a few minutes.

Discover also the museum spaces, which host exhibitions on the theme of ceramics.