Jardin de la Grande Forge de Buffon

A masterpiece of industrial heritage, the Grande Forge was built in 1768 by the famous Burgundian naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc Comte de Buffon. All the stages in the manufacture of iron are housed in a single elegant, classical building: the blast furnace, the refinery and the splitting plant. The workshops are surrounded by canals that provide the hydraulic power needed to operate the wooden bellows (faithfully restored) and 2 paddle wheels. The forge was in operation for a century, before being converted into a cement works for 50 years. It has been a private historic monument open to visitors since 1978.

The estate includes a vast courtyard, a vegetable garden and a period orangery. The forge is located along the Burgundy canal, where you can enjoy pleasant walks.

The gardens are open to groups (minimum 20 people) by prior arrangement. This allows a complete tour of the 3 iron production workshops and the vegetable garden, which was used by the workers and their families who lived on site. This area is private and open to individuals during the Rendez-vous aux Jardins and the European Heritage Days. On these 2 occasions, visitors can take a guided tour of the garden led by a member of the family.