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Eglise Saint-Pierre

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Sainterie

The Sainterie

Did you know that Vendreuve was home to ‘Paradise’?

Léon MOYNET
(1818-1892)

The Christian Art Manufactory of Vendeuvre-sur-Barse, known as ‘la Sainterie’, was established by the renowned sculptor Léon MOYNET.

The early days of the Sainterie

Initially established in 1842 in Magny-Fouchard (Aube region), he developed religious terracotta statuary centred around the manufacture of two altars for the parish. His technique, using moulds, meant that, in contrast to traditional wood or stone sculpture, he was able to produce multiple and therefore cheaper editions at a time when the demand for statues was very high.
In 1844, he started producing statues assisted by a handful of workers in a workshop located on the western outskirts of Vendeuvre-sur-Barse. Some structures can still be seen in the vicinity of 77 Avenue de la Libération.

MOYNET, a statuary artist

From 1860, he developed a full-scale industrial complex including a large round kiln and a steam engine to knead the clay.
He reproduced his designs in series and commercialised them through catalogues that were to include photographs from 1869 onwards. He produced several thousand statues each year, appointed 80 employees, and enlisted the help of sculptors to manufacture his designs.
In 1878, the Paris Universal Exhibition allocated him a booth he deemed too small. Consequently, he designed a big exhibition shop for his statues aptly named ‘le Paradis’ (Paradise) which became an attraction for customers and visitors alike.
A few renowned sculptors worked alongside him anonymously: Paul AUBÉ, Eugène MARSON, Ernest TOUSSAINT, and Florentin MEFFROY.

An oven

Paradise

Honoré NICOT
Industrial expansion and decline

In 1890, at the age of 72, MOYNET retired and handed the company over to his accountant Honoré NICOT.
The ‘Sainterie’ continued to develop, particularly internationally, thanks to orders placed by missions. The premises grew with the addition of a new oven, unfortunately, fate struck the NICOTs. Honoré died in 1905, aged 49, and his son Henri was killed during the First World War. The 1905 law on the separation of Church and State and the decline of the worship of Saints marked the beginning of the end for the company. René NICOT diversified his production by making secular statues to no avail. He also tried to produce architectural terracotta pieces in vain. The production of statues came to a halt in 1961.
The memory of this industry is perpetuated by a local association, ‘Artho’, pending the opening of a ‘Sainterie and saintiers’ Museum.

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Sainterie

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Hôtel de Ville

The town hall

The Communal house

Following the foundation of the communes in December 1789, communal houses were established so elected representatives would meet in a specifically intended location.
The first communal house was located opposite the Barse source, in front of the Moulin CORNET (Mill), at the intersection of the Grande Rue, the Rue du Chapon, and the present day Rue Aimé BRENOT.
From 1790 onwards, ‘arbres de la liberté’ (freedom trees) started to flourish all over the country following the French Revolution.
Since there was insufficient ground for one around the communal house, the Baron of Vendeuvre suggested planting it as close as possible, on a plot of land in the park of the château.

The town hall

In 1853, the first communal house was sold, which helped to finance the purchase of a building that would become the new town hall on the Place du Calvaire, its current location.

The iron battalion

The exclusion of the Aube region from the delineation of the Champagne appellation vineyards triggered the wrath of the Aube winegrowers. Gaston CHEQ organised a protest march in Bar-sur-Aube. The so-called iron battalion headed for the Prefecture, pausing in front of the Vendeuvre Town Hall on 8 April 1911, and proceeding on to Troyes the following day.
It was only in 1927 that the vineyards of the Aube region, particularly the Côte des Bar, were to join the Champagne appellation.

The war memorial

The war memorial replaced the freedom tree and was unveiled on 24 September 1922.

13 and 14 July 1940

Bombing of Vendeuvre.

The square

The square took on its existing appearance in the late 1940s when the construction of the bandstand made it a place for gatherings and festivities.

General DE GAULLE

General DE GAULLE, the President of the French Republic, visited Vendeuvre during an official visit of the Aube en Champagne Department in 1963.

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Hôtel de Ville

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Départ

The Melusine Trail

I am the fairy Melusine, follow me as I unveil the treasures of Vendeuvre-sur-Barse.

2.5 km route
Estimated time approx. 1.5 hours

1. Departure – Media Library
2. The Town Hall
3. The Sainterie
4. Saint-Pierre Church
5. Water, Treasure and Origins
6. The Château
7. The Place de la Halle
8. Vendeuvre Renowned Figures
9. The Engineering Industry
10. The Saint-Georges Priory

Four key resources contributed to the growth of Vendeuvre. Their symbolic colours are reflected in the logo of the commune

Water: particularly abundant in the commune, it supplied the mills and industries
Wood: industries and locals alike sourced their wood in the forêt d’Orient massif
Earth: tile and pottery factories gathered clay from local burrows
Iron: forges used the minerals extracted in the open-air site of ‘les Minières’.

A few recommendations: wear suitable clothing, respect the markings , the environment, and the public domain.