Workshop

glass furnaces

A site full of history

The oldest occupants of this site used salt from the Salt Spring and jet, a semi-precious stone, from which they made jewelry. Much later, agriculture and cattle breeding developed. During the time of the unpopular gabelle, the salt of the spring was the center of a very active smuggling.

Getting there

In the 17^th century, the lords of the place favored the installation of the gentlemen glassmakers who practiced their art until the eve of the Revolution.

It is near the spring of the Sals (which owes its name to the fact that the water that gushes out is salty) that you will discover, in the middle of the forest, glass furnaces.

In the clearing, a landscaped area houses 2 glassmakers’ kilns that were used over a period from 1650 to 1770.

These furnaces discovered during archaeological excavations, provide evidence of the presence on this site of a remarkable forest glass workshop. These artisans had chosen to settle here, in the forest that provided them with the wood needed to operate the furnaces.

The art of glassmaking is very ancient. Men began making glass more than 100,000 years ago. Since then, they have continued to perfect the manufacturing techniques and today there are all kinds of glass: blown, molded, flat cast, transparent, colored…

Information panels present on site explain their discovery by the association in 2010, the operation of these furnaces and tell you about the life of the Gentleman glassmakers as well as the activity of the site, the products manufactured etc…

And they will certainly answer some of your questions: How did the oven work? Why is it partly buried? What is an annealing furnace? How is glass made?

At the same time, you will be able to discover the field of salt water. Salt water in the middle of the mountains, what is this phenomenon? It is up to you to find out.

It is quite natural that a discovery trail “Between Salt and Glass” linking this site to the salt water domain has resulted…

SOUGRAIGNE

Why do hikers, visitors, artists… almost always have a crush on Sougraigne?

Let yourself be drawn into the streets of the village of Sougraigne, a typical Corbières village that has kept its rural mountain character: winding main street, fountain in the middle of the village square, small narrow streets, houses with golden colors, exposed stones.

Sougraigne is a small village overlooked by the pointed bell tower of the church. All around, meadows and forests, hamlets that have naturally prompted the settlement of Man and the development of cattle breeding mainly. However, you will find in the village large buildings, sheepfold, hutches, pens, stables and other shelter for livestock (such as cows, pigs, rabbits …) some of which are still in use.