The former crystal glassworks furnaces, now Château de la Verrerie, Le Creusot.
©The former crystal glassworks furnaces, now Château de la Verrerie, Le Creusot.|Oscara Photographe, Creusot Montceau Tourime
The Cristallerie Royale du Creusot MontceauAn industry now extinct
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Le Creusot was born of the arts of fire at the end of the 18th century. Alongside the foundry, the industry first flourished around crystal.
The mining of Montcenis coal from 1769 onwards led to the creation of the Royal Foundry at Le Creusot in 1781. At the same time, the fashion for lead crystal, which had originated in England, spread to European courts and wealthy circles.

At the time of the Manufacture Royale

The young Manufacture des Cristaux de la Reine, located in Sèvres, near Paris, looking for a place where coal would be plentiful and cheap, decides to come to Le Creusot. A large U-shaped building was erected on the heights above the foundry to house workshops, warehouses, administration and workers’ quarters. Nearby, two conical brick halls housed the furnaces.

The former crystal glassworks furnaces, now Château de la Verrerie, Le Creusot.
©The former crystal glassworks furnaces, now Château de la Verrerie, Le Creusot.|Xavier Spertini
View of the Queen's crystal factory in Le Creusot, 1787Cristallerie Royale
©View of the Queen's crystal factory in Le Creusot, 1787|CUCM, document Écomusée, reproduction D. Busseuil
The former crystal glassworks furnaces, now Château de la Verrerie, Le Creusot.
©The former crystal glassworks furnaces, now Château de la Verrerie, Le Creusot.|Xavier Spertini
View of the Queen's crystal factory in Le Creusot, 1787Cristallerie Royale
©View of the Queen's crystal factory in Le Creusot, 1787|CUCM, document Écomusée, reproduction D. Busseuil
    Luxury, detail and meticulous artistry

    The beauty of Le Creusot crystals

    Restoration clock, circa 1820, Le Creusot, Musée de l'homme et de l'industrie.Crystal Pendulum 01
    ©Restoration clock, circa 1820, Le Creusot, Musée de l'homme et de l'industrie.|CUCM, document écomusée, reproduction D. Busseuil
    Crystal and gilt bronze perfume box, circa 1810, Le Creusot, Musée de l'homme et de l'industrie.Cristal set
    ©Crystal and gilt bronze perfume box, circa 1810, Le Creusot, Musée de l'homme et de l'industrie.|CUCM, document écomusée, reproduction D. Busseuil.
    Crystal and gilt bronze clock, circa 1830, Le Creusot, Musée de l'homme et de l'industrie.
    ©Crystal and gilt bronze clock, circa 1830, Le Creusot, Musée de l'homme et de l'industrie.|CUCM, document écomusée, reproduction D. Busseuil
    Crystal and gilt bronze vase, circa 1810, Le Creusot, Musée de l'homme et de l'industrie.Cristal vase
    ©Crystal and gilt bronze vase, circa 1810, Le Creusot, Musée de l'homme et de l'industrie.|CUCM, document écomusée, reproduction D. Busseuil
      Château de la Verrerie by night, Le Creusot.
      ©Château de la Verrerie by night, Le Creusot.|Oscara Photographe, Creusot Montceau Tourisme
      Château de la Verrerie by night, Le Creusot.
      ©Château de la Verrerie by night, Le Creusot.|Oscara Photographe Creusot Montceau Tourisme
      Château de la Verrerie by night, Le Creusot.Le Creusot Parc Des Combes Train De La Peur Chateau De La Verrerie Nuit 1 Automne 2019oscara Photographer Creusot Montceau Tourism. 217 Min
      ©Château de la Verrerie by night, Le Creusot.|Oscara Photographe, Creusot Montceau Tourisme
      Château de la Verrerie by night, Le Creusot.Le Creusot Parc Des Combes Train De La Peur Chateau De La Verrerie Nuit 1 Automne 2019oscara Photographer Creusot Montceau Tourism. 202 Min
      ©Château de la Verrerie by night, Le Creusot.|Oscara Photographe, Creusot Montceau Tourisme

        The home of the blacksmiths

        In the early 1830s, the Le Creusot crystal works ran into difficulties and was eventually sold by its owners. In 1832, it was bought by Baccarat and Saint-Louis, who decided to repatriate all production to eastern France. The Creusot glass and crystal industry died out.

        The buildings were used to house miners and foundry workers until they were bought out in 1837 by the Schneider brothers, the new owners of the forges. Eugène Schneider decided to make it his home in Le Creusot. Work was then gradually undertaken to transform the former crystal works into a prestigious residence, which took the name of Château de la Verrerie.

        Today

        A museum

        Today, the Château de la Verrerie is home to the Musée de l’Homme et de l’ Industrie, which presents visitors with the history of the region’s industrial development. The permanent exhibition focuses on the manufacture of crystal, and representative objects illustrate the know-how, quality and variety of products once made at the Le Creusot crystal works.

        Cour d'honneur, Château de la Verrerie, Le Creusot.Chateau De La Verrerie @ 3 Min
        ©Cour d'honneur, Château de la Verrerie, Le Creusot.|Lesley Williamson

          Cristallerie Royale in three key dates

          1781

          The Fonderie Royale is founded at Le Creusot. At the time, the fashion for lead crystal was arriving straight from England and seducing the French aristocratic courts.

          1830

          The Cristallerie experienced its first difficulties, and was eventually sold by its owners.

          1837

          Eugène Schneider decides to make the crystal works his home in Le Creusot. He gave the building a second life, transforming it from a crystal glassworks into a prestigious residence.

          Not to be missed

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