Ceramic houses bear witness to a flourishing industry

Architectural ceramics

Private homes, shops and workshops bear witness to an activity that has now disappeared. Stroll through the streets of Montchanin and Écuisses in search of the colorful bricks, tiles and original sculpted decorations that left their mark on the whole region.

Shades of ochre, yellow, green or blue… It’s a veritable explosion of color that splashes across the facades of houses, testifying to the know-how of companies that have now disappeared.

What to see

in the streets of Écuisses

The town of Écuisses grew thanks to the Canal du Centre and, above all, to the presence of ceramic factories. Among these, Perrusson remains the best known.

The Perrusson company was behind a number of buildings in the village. The old workshops, the workers’ housing estate, the bakery and the cooperative are all lined up along the Canal du Centre road. Like the Villa Perrusson, the elegant employer’s residence, these other buildings promote the company’s products: bricks, tiles and glazed decorations are visible to passers-by and boatmen alike.

Promenadein pictures

Ecuisse Perrusson 37 @lesley Williamson Hd

Ecuisse Perrusson 204 @lesley Williamson Hd

In Montchanin

The memory of the Great Burgundy Tilery

In Montchanin, a town very close to Écuisses, it’s the Grande Tuilerie de Bourgogne that has left its mark on the streets

Several richly decorated houses can be seen in the station area. Travelers coming into town after getting off the train could admire them along the way and appreciate the full extent of the company’s expertise

Other, sometimes more discreet, examples can be found on various downtown buildings: medallions on facades, sculptures on roofs, etc. As for the remains of the old factory, they have been converted into a social center called “Espace Tuilerie”.

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