Visite et martelage du cuivre aux Martinets du Lézert

An unusual visit to discover a unique heritage in the heart of Ségala, in La Bastide l'Evêque. Passionate volunteers will share with you the fabulous adventure of this place.

A unique story : in the 13th-14th centuries, at the founding of La Bastide l'Evêque, a copper metallurgy activity developed on the Lézert stream. There were thirteen hammer mills that operated until the 19th century. In these forges, copper was hammered to make the rough drafts of cauldrons, pots and other tools intended for boilermakers.

An incredible human adventure : long forgotten, it is thanks to the passion of a few inhabitants that the Ramonde swift will come back to life. After thousands of hours of reconstruction work, the sound of the hammer once again echoes through the valley.

A remarkable reconstruction : the restoration of the swifts illustrates the know-how of "martinaires” in copper metallurgy.