In the “Ochre heart” of Provence, Roussillon, part 2

After visiting the mines, we took the car and not far away, only two kilometers, we found the old Mathieu factory. An old ocher factory, which produced about 1,000 tons of material a year, until 1963. It was then abandoned for many years until Barbara and Mathieu Barrois discovered the place, felt in love and decide to rescue it…

It was then converted into a cooperative society of cultural and patrimonial interest named the “Ôkhra, Conservatory of ocher and color”. A place where history is exposed. Where knowledge about colors is also imparted through numerous training courses to learn the old tecchniques.

In the Arts training center, much emphasis is placed on the transmission of knowledge, both current and old. In the understanding of the materials and how they are used in an artisanal way. In a privileged environment and with the support of professionals and masters in ancient techniques such as Pastel, varnish, Oil, or tempera, we enter in a world of discovery, in which materials such as fresco, handmade paper, lime, plaster, etc. take life again.

Every year, very interesting training workshops are held!  There are activities and all kind of “Ateliers” for adults and also for children! The path in the heart of the ponds and buildings is dotted with panels illustrated with technical drawings, photographs of the plant in operation in 1942 and enriched by the testimony of the former foreman of the Mathieu plant.

In 1942, the Mathieu family owns two quarries in Roussillon, one partially underground, in Pierroux, while the other one is open-pit mine near the Factory, on the other side of the road. The mixture of sand and ochre is delivered to the Factory by truck…

The ochre was crushed, ground and sifted. To pack down the ochre correctly, the barrels are pressed three times. Each barrel weighs between 50 and 250 Kg. The client´s name, the destination and the quality of the ochre were stenciled on the barrel.

We can visit the old factory and see how all the process of the production was made years ago, in rooms that look directly into the past. It is, in some way, like being inside an old picture a century ago or traveling to the past…