Former Rolland manufacture of plaster and lime dans les Alpes-de-Haute-Provence

Timeline

Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Rolland factory, located in Cairo in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, is an old factory specializing in plaster and lime production. Founded in the late 19th century (1896) and enlarged in the 1930s, it is distinguished by its system of plaster mill operated by animal traction, an industrial rarity. The site preserves ovens dating back to its period of activity, including one of 1930, illustrating the technical developments of the time.

The manufacturing process was based on three key steps: extraction of gypsum, cooking in historical ovens, and grinding. These facilities, protected since 1996 as part of the Historic Monuments, testify to the economic importance of local industries in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. The architectural complex (moulin, oven, auxiliary buildings) has been preserved for its exceptional heritage character.

The factory is part of a regional context marked by the exploitation of natural resources, such as gypsum, and progressive industrialization at the turn of the twentieth century. Such factories played a central role in the local economy, providing essential building materials to surrounding villages. Their decline, often linked to the modernization of techniques, has given way to heritage enhancement, as evidenced by the registration of this site in 1996.

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