Launched in 2018 by the COR, the project to renovate the Haut-Beaujolais Ecomuseum is a major undertaking.
The ambition of the COR Community Council, chaired by Patrice Verchère, is to create a heritage, cultural and tourist centre capable of showcasing the region and its history from the 18th century to the present day, as well as developing the range of services available to residents and visitors.
Enhancing the value of this former industrial site required the involvement of a number of players, who, with the support of the museum’s teams, brought this mammoth project to a successful conclusion.
Following validation of the Scientific and Cultural Project by the Ministry of Culture in 2019, and the work to save the industrial chimney in 2020, the renovation has moved into the active phase until 2025.
Following a call for tenders, VURPAS, together with Designers Unit, has been chosen as the main contractor for the renovation of this remarkable heritage site, which will enhance the region’s cultural and tourist offering.
At the same time, work has begun on the machine collections to prepare them for their future display in the museum. This work is being carried out by volunteers from the Patrimoines Haut-Beaujolais association.
Alongside the work on the La Manufacture building, another equally important project has been taking place: the work on the textile machinery collections. is continuing.
Among them, one in particular is attracting attention: a machine consisting of an assortment of carding machines, known as the ‘grande carde’.
It’s a very large piece, not only because of its size (17m long, 3m60 wide and 2m20 high), but also because of the treatments that have been carried out (dusting, degreasing, removal of rust, etc.) and the logistics that have been put in place (numbering of parts of the machine, division of tasks between volunteers, detailed monitoring of the work, etc.).
The machine was collected by the Patrimoines Haut-Beaujolais association in 1998 from the Robin Marieton company in Amplepuis.
This set of cards is used to parallel textile fibres (cotton or cotton waste, wool, acrylic, etc.) using cylinders fitted with needles, so that they can then be made into thread.
