Circuit No. 5 is a good trail to reach the Manufacture Royale when leaving the spa resort in Bains-Les-Bains. The site was founded in the 18th century under the aegis of the Duke of Lorraine. Hiking and heritage lovers gave such overwhelming support to this site that it has become a key element of the area. The Canal des Vosges, a water and cycle tourism axis, runs alongside the estate from 1733, which is one of the most well preserved industrial sites in Lorraine, including its exhibition room called Halle au Charbon .
The Manufacture Royale
If you are looking for a more exhaustive tour, including the Park, its aged-old trees and the restored chapel, a short break on site will not be enough, according to our specialized consultant at the Tourist Office. They will provide you with all the useful information you need to participate in the tours carried out by the owner of the Manufacture Royale. Twice a month, he opens the doors of his estate and explains its story with passion, bringing up the past and blowing the dust off history in the region. He talks about the history of its founder, of the first female Bachelor in France and reveals the life of the workers when the site was a tin-ware factory.
The Mill - Moulin Gentrey
Browse through your map while you are still close to the Canal des Vosges and you will see that the mill - Moulin Gentrey is only a walk away (30 mins). This tour is another favorite of our tourists. There is a building which is representative of the region’s know-how in the field of processing potatoes. It was built along the stream called Ruisseau des Cailloux and has survived through time. This place has nothing to do with typically local dishes as one would imagine but it is an old starch production site from 1870, where locally grown potatoes were transformed into starch. This production was used on fabrics manufactured by the textile industry among other applications.
But we will not tell you all about the mill in too much detail since the guided tours, which are cordial, clear and given by the volunteers of the association, are more informative. Added to this is the opportunity to hear and learn some expressions from our local patois, making this experience an even more enjoyable, warm and authentic moment.
