Construction of furnaces 1873 (≈ 1873)
Linked to the Fay-Morceaux mines.
1918
Post-war modernization
Post-war modernization 1918 (≈ 1918)
Technical improvements after 1914-1918.
1982
Final judgment
Final judgment 1982 (≈ 1982)
End of furnace activity.
30 novembre 1994
Registration Historic Monument
Registration Historic Monument 30 novembre 1994 (≈ 1994)
Protection of furnaces and tunnel.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Lime furnaces and tunnel (Box AB 129): registration by order of 30 November 1994
Key figures
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The source text does not mention any actors.
Origin and history
The lime ovens of Benet, located in the commune of Benet in Vendée (Pays de la Loire), date from the second half of the 19th century. They were built in 1873 and are closely linked to the exploitation of the Fay-Morceaux mines, illustrating the industrial activity of the region at that time. These facilities, typical of the industrial heritage, reflect the growing need for lime for agriculture and construction.
Modernized after World War I (1914-1918), the kilns continued to operate until their final shutdown in 1982. Their historical importance was recognized by an inscription under the Historical Monuments in 1994, covering the furnaces themselves and an adjacent tunnel. This classification protects a technical and architectural heritage representative of the industrial era in France.
Today, the Benet lime ovens, although not open to the visit systematically, remain a marker of the local industrial past. Their location, at 10 Impasse des Fours in Chaux, and their state of conservation make it a point of interest for the economic and social history of the Vendée. Their relationship with the Fay-Morceaux mines also highlights the interactions between mining and material processing in the region.
