Know-how and crafts

Dive into Auvergne craftsmanship: the unique pleasure of doing it yourself

The Livradois Forez region’s culture, built heritage and economic activity have all been shaped by the history of its craft traditions. These include Gallo-Roman sigillata, 15th-century Thierno cutlery, paper-making and lace-making, as well as stonework and stained glass… all recognized Auvergne crafts.

Today, they can be discovered by visiting museums or exhibitions, or by taking part in workshops, but they are still very much alive and well, and provide a livelihood for passionate craftspeople. All this know-how is accessible to visitors, who can plunge their hands into the extension of these craftsmen’s hands and extract their own unique piece. How satisfying, isn’t it? And what’s more, it will be an exclusive and incomparable souvenir.

The "Le Thiers®" knife

Thiers remains a vital center for the cutlery industry and craftsmanship in the Auvergne region, accounting for some 80% of French production of cutting tools. Considered the cutlery capital of France, Thiers has built its reputation on the excellence of its blades, and continues to adapt its methods to new technologies while preserving traditional techniques. Created by the Compagnons fondateurs de la Confrérie du Couteau LE THIERS®, a registered and protected trademark, each knife is a work of art reflecting high standards of quality, traceability, territoriality and professional ethics.

The Auvergne’s built heritage is also marked by this craft. If you follow the Durolle River, you’ll see the old mills and their workshops, known as rouets, where grinders shaped knife blades. To get a feel for the atmosphere and the harsh working conditions, you can also visit the last remaining spinning wheel “chez Lyonnet”.
Today, there are both craftsmen working in small workshops and industrial-scale companies exporting all over the world. Today, there are 80 production units and around 30 subcontractors. Visitors can discover this know-how on a tour of the workshops, where they can make their own knife. It’s a truly extraordinary experience, and an object that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

Where to build your own knife?

Discover the fabulous history of the Thiers cutlery industry and learn how to make your own knife!

Coutellia

In May, stroll the aisles of Coutellia, the world’s largest cutlery festival, in Auvergne. It brings together exhibitors from all over the world in the knife capital, all driven by a passion for cutlery: cutlers, barbers, collectors and equipment suppliers.

The Cutlery Museum

All year round, the Musée de la Coutellerie, in Thiers, plunges you into six centuries of a heritage with worldwide influence. The rich collection features works by French and foreign cutlery centers, from the XVIᵉ century to the present day. An invitation to discover the evolution of the knife.

The exceptional paper du Moulin Richard de Bas

It was in the XIIIᵉ century that the first paper mills appeared in the West. The paper mills ofAmbert and Livradois-Forez soon followed, becoming the most important paper industry in the kingdom. It remained so until the end of the XVIIIᵉ century. At that time, the valley was home to almost 400 mills!

This concentration of mills not only reinforced Ambert’s importance in the paper industry, but also contributed to the economy and culture of the entire region. The history of paper in the Livradois-Forez region is closely linked to theregion’s economic development, having been used for both writing and packaging in periods of high industrial activity.

Today, the Moulin Richard de Bas is more than just a mill; it’s an emblem of local know-how, a witness to the evolution and persistence of an ancient art. Paper is still made here using ancestral methods. The mill, the last in the region, produces paper of exceptional quality, prized for calligraphy andart. It has also cultivated artistic and cultural collaborations. The most famous of these was with the artist Salvador Dali for the book “L’Apocalypse de Joseph Foret”, produced in a single edition. Leaves from Moulin Richard de Bas were also used for the limited edition lithographic reproductions of Picasso.

The architecture of the mill is simple and typical of the region’s rural buildings. Its large wooden wheel, which powers the entire papermaking process, is a marvel of old-world engineering. Despite the arrival of modern paper-making machinery towards the end of the 18th century, the Moulin de Richard de Bas has managed to preserve its original mechanism. Today, the mill houses a museum where you can learn about old-fashioned papermaking and test your own creativity.

The history of the paper industry can also be experienced on foot

The Chemin des papetiers (Paper Mill Trail), which winds through the Valeyre Valley, offers hikers the chance to see other mills, now closed down. The Moulin de Nouara, for example, was one of the largest paper mills of the 18th century. It has recently been restored by a local heritage and cultural foundation.

View file

La Dentelle d'Arlanc : A thread between art and history

Bobbin and needle lace has been practiced for several centuries in the Livradois-Forez region, and more specifically in Arlanc. As early as the XVIIᵉ century, it followed clothing fashions and adorned blouses, shirts, collars and sleeves. It’s very much in vogue and, in line with the return of knitwear, could well become so again!

Do you know the difference between square lace and needle lace? Between Venice stitch and Esprit stitch? If not, then why not visit the Musée de la dentelle, where you’ll learn something totally unexpected.

More than 500 pieces from the permanent collection are on display in Arlanc, as you stroll through the four exhibition rooms on the ground floor of the Hôtel de Ville, housed in charming vaulted rooms, and watch the audiovisual documentary. From handmade lace to the industrial know-how of contemporary lace, the Musée de la Dentelle d’Arlanc offers a wide range of creations.

Carreau, bobbins, needles, threads – all the tools of the lace-maker – are on display, as is a working mechanical lace loom on display. It dates from the last century and illustrates the evolution of lacemaking in Arlanc.

Self-guided or guided tour with a guide. There’s also a lace route that takes you through the Puy-de-Dôme and Haute-Loire regions, all the way to Puy-en-Velay, another lace Mecca!

Recover the Lace Route map7MB

La Poterie de Lezoux: From Gallo-Roman roots to the present day

Another renowned Auvergne craft is ceramics. Its origins are lost in the mists of time, but vestiges of it date back to the VIᵉ millennium BC in the West and the VIIᵉ century BC in the Near and Middle East. Over the centuries, men perfected their ability to shape clay and also discovered the art of firing. This is what gives their creations a solidity and durability that defy the centuries.

Signet ware can be recognized by its red or orangehue and its relief decoration of mythological or floral scenes. This prized and quite luxurious tableware was exported throughout the Roman Empire.

Although Lezoux’s ceramics production has declined, contemporary potters draw their inspiration from these age-old techniques. Workshops and exhibitions offer special opportunities for artisans to share their passion and techniques with visitors.

The Departmental Museum of Ceramics

A visit to the Musée de la Céramique in Lezoux, with its 1,300 m2 of tactile and entertaining exhibits, will enable you to discover unique pieces from this period. The museum is well worth a visit.