Visit of Maringues and its Tanneries

Depart from the town of Maringues, latitude 45.9197900 (N 45° 55’ 11”), longitude 3.3299600 (E 3° 19’ 48”)

• Manual

• Discover the tanneries district and the upper town by following this QR code circuit!
• Follow the indications of the audio tracks at each stage, they will lead you to each point of interest
• Join the first point: at the foot of the Grande Tannerie, to the right of the Morge bridge
• Have a good visit!

• A little history on Maringues

• Maringues is near the Allier which was a waterway of prime importance. The city is positioning itself
• therefore from the early Middle Ages as a place of privileged exchanges and has long been the first port of Auvergne. In the middle of the 15th century, it acquired fortifications, while the crafts of the tanneries reached its peak. In the 16th century, Maringues became the second commercial place in Auvergne after Montferrand. But in the nineteenth century, the arrival of the path of worms will slow down the commercial activity with the decline of the fluvial activity. In 1860, there were 60 tanneries in operation, but the activity declined after the First World War.
• Stay here for a few more moments to learn more about this activity and this tall building in front of you.

• The Great Tannery

• Rebuilt in the 19th century, it was the last tannery to cease its activity in the early 19th century before experiencing a second life in the 1980s that saw its renovation.
• Now turn around and look up: listen to what the Lovers' Bridge has to teach you.

• The Bridge of the Slackers

So called by the inhabitants of Maringues, because it was on this bridge that the dangling arms, the day laborers of the tanneries waited to be hired.

• To learn more about the trade and the life of the tanners, go to the tannery Grandval: go under the bridge, follow the gravel path to the end. You have arrived !

• The Grandval Tannery

• This tannery dates back to the 16th century and is typical of the tanneries found in the neighborhood: simple and functional, both workshop and tanner's house.
• To reach the next point of interest: retrace your steps and at the level of the Grande Tannerie, continue along the river by the small path along the canal.
• A hundred meters further, climb left the few steps leading under the building of the old leather hall, with large openings in arches and wood.

• The leather hall

• Once the leather was finished, the tanners stored it here, waiting for it to be sold. The use of the brick helped retain moisture and keep the skin dry.
• To reach the next point of interest: Now go along the building on your right and at the end of the path, take the red brick stairs up to the street.
• On the left, go down the street for about twenty meters.
• Cross then climb on Place Beaudet Lafarge.

• Place Beaudet Lafarge

• The old postcards show a place on which many barrels were piled up. At the bar's location stood a wine merchant.
• To reach the next point of interest: leave on your left and go to the end of the square on the right, at the corner of rue de Bouillon.

• House called the Seven Deadly Sins

• This half-timbered house dating back to the end of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century boasts stone modillions carved with figures representing the seven capital sins.
• To reach the next point of interest: climb the broad street of Bouillon, formerly lined with stalls, until the current media library, which will be on your left: you are at the hotel of the Ducs de Bouillons.

• Hotel des Ducs de Bouillon

• This mansion of the second half of the 15th century, beginning of the 16th century, saw its facade completely transformed in the 17th century.
• He currently houses the Maringues media library. If it is open, take the opportunity to climb to the lookout where you will have a great view of Maringues.
• To reach the next point of interest: behind you, stands the wheat market. Approach the large screened openings to discover the interior (the next sign is on the left side of the hall when you arrive from the Ducs de Bouillon hotel).

• Wheat Hall

• Built in 1855, this building attests to the importance of trade at Maringues and houses every Monday a famous market for farmyard animals.
• To reach the next point of interest: take the passage to the right of the building of the community of communes.
• Pass the green gate and continue on the right, rue de Barny. At the end of the street, in front of you stand the buildings of the Town Hall (the sign of the next point of interest is on the right of the building of the Town Hall).

• City Hall

• This former convent of young girls was built between 1666 and 1700 with the stones of the neighboring castle of Montgacon. He welcomed a college of Ursulines before being bought by the city.
• To reach the next point of interest: go past the main facade of the town hall. At the end of the street turn right to the church, and go to the forecourt.

• Church Notre Dame

• This composite building was enlarged in the 12th century in a Romanesque style, then modified and enlarged until the 20th century. An imposing lava bell tower was built in 1855.
• Enjoy the forecourt of the church where a wide panorama on the village and the chain of puys is offered to you.
• Now, you know now almost everything about the city of Maringues and its tanneries, thanks in particular to the testimonies of Gilles Recoque, president of the Association for the safeguarding of tanneries, and Yves Meya, former president of the association, whom we thank.
• To reach your starting point, go to Boulevard Bergougnoux, which you will go down on your left to rue Saint Maurice.
• Finally, take a left again until the Grande Tannerie.