INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE

In the 19th century, Marvejols took advantage of the presence of numerous mills, built on the Colagne from the 14th century, to set up textile factories. In 1850, the town had 4 spinning mills, 90 hand looms, 4 fulling mills and 3 dyeing mills. The factories declined at the beginning of the 20th century, technically outdated and competing with factories in the North of France. The last one was closed in 1969. However, there are still some buildings (private) that give an idea of the local economic activity, which employed up to a thousand people, such as the Lignon factory, with its view of Marvejols, the Pineton factory, which alone employed up to 500 people, built next to an 18th century castle, the factory of Trivalle, the factory of Piquetrabuc, the one of Goutelle and the factory of Monplaisir, the only one which did not use the hydraulic energy to make function its trades and which produced the felt used by the manufacture of hats of Saint-Léger-de-Peyre, also disappeared. The industrial past of Marvejols survives today thanks to the tour proposed by the tourist office: another look at the city of Henri IV, unusual and fascinating, which will take you to the discovery of six sites. The tour, which starts at the Lignon factory, requires a vehicle to go from one building to another. But the brochure published by the tourist office specifies, in addition to the itinerary, the places where you can park your car to enjoy the visit without having to look for a parking lot.