Montbelleux mine,
Montbelleux, an unusual pedestrian path in Luitré near Fougères.
La 3 M
Mémoire de la Mine de Montbelleux
(Memorial of the mine of Montbelleux)
The association 3M, Memory of the Mine of Montbelleux intends to preserve the cultural, social and natural heritage of Montbelleux.
The association collects tools, mining equipment, written, photographic and sound documents, in fact all forms of souvenirs with a view to preserving both concrete and abstract aspects of the heritage.
Translated by Daphne Pitois
Tin and tungsten mine
Luitré (35) France
Tin ore was already being extracted from Montbelleux during the Bronze Age (4000 B.C.) Two Neolithic standing stones on the south side of the hill were destroyed – through ignorance- in the 19th century.
Later (1000 B.C.) the Celts settled in Armorica (Brittany).
For the Celts, this hillock was a sacred mountain devoted to the cult of Belen, the god of light. The Druids brought offerings there and made bonfires to celebrate the summer solstice.
Until the 18th century a windmill crowned the hill.
Montbelleux is the site of many legends(for example, The Christmas Blackbird).
The site is also rich in history.
The last pithead gantry in Brittany.
Discovery circuit of the site of Montbelleux
A footpath with explicative signposts in strategic places will enable you to find your way around the former mine where tungsten (also known as wolfram) was extracted.
The signposts tell you, for example, about the history and number of employees in the mine, the Neolithic standing stones, legends, the windmill and local industry, minerals mined in Montbelleux, activity during wartime.
From the 4.5km path you will see the mine yard, the gantry and the remarkable panorama of Fougères and the surrounding countryside.
Starting point : at the gantry.
The last pithead gantry in Brittany.
The superb landscape visible from the foot of the gantry, with Fougères in the distance.
