Reactivation of the forge vers 1640 (≈ 1640)
Recovery by the Pinet des Ecots family.
1815
Production of white iron
Production of white iron 1815 (≈ 1815)
Specialization after the Revolution.
1840
Construction master house
Construction master house 1840 (≈ 1840)
Louis-Philippe style cossu.
XVIIIe siècle
Industrial experiments
Industrial experiments XVIIIe siècle (≈ 1850)
Test site for Badaud de la Chaussade.
1856
Decline in activity
Decline in activity 1856 (≈ 1856)
30 remaining workers.
1878
Final closure
Final closure 1878 (≈ 1878)
End of production.
1990 et 2008
Historical Monuments
Historical Monuments 1990 et 2008 (≈ 2008)
Protection of buildings and park.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The facades and roofs of the forge hall and its annex building, of the workers' housing; the sleeping bridge; all the walls of the bay; the entrance portal (Case C 66): registration by order of 14 March 1990 - The facades and roofs (carrying structures) of the mansion and the park of Forgeneuve (Box ZB 10, 12, 13, 38, 39, 51): inscription by order of 16 May 2008
Key figures
Famille Pinet des Écots - Owners-launchers
Reactivate the forge around 1640.
Badaud de la Chaussade - Engineer and industrialist
Experiment on the site before Guérigny.
Origin and history
The Forgeneuve forges, located in Coulanges-les-Nevers in the Nièvre, are a rare example of the average forge prior to the industrial era. Their activity, attested from the fifteenth century, was revived around 1640 by the Pinet des Ecots family. The site then became an experimental ground for Badaud de la Chaussade, founder of the Guérigny royal forges for the navy. After the Revolution, production specialized in steel blades, followed by white iron from 1815, and gradually declined until the final closure in 1878.
The buildings, unchanged since the 18th century, illustrate traditional metallurgical techniques, with a hydraulic network powered by Nièvre. The master house, built in 1840 under Louis-Philippe, reflects the opulence of the period, while the park, designed around 1845, incorporates the industrial remains in a landscaped setting. The site, partially restored at the end of the twentieth century, is protected by two decrees (1990 and 2008) for its facades, roofs, and hydraulic elements.
The garden of Forgeneuve, classified as "Remarkable Garden", combines industrial and horticultural heritage. The circular aisles, centered on the master house, highlight the historic buildings and the bay. This site, both technical and aesthetic, bears witness to the evolution of the forges before the industrial revolution, while offering a preserved example of integration between metallurgical production and landscaping.
The gradual abandonment in the 19th century, marked by the reduction of the labour force (30 workers in 1856), is explained by the competition of modern factories. The closure in 1878 seals the end of an age-old activity, but the subsequent preservation of the structures makes it possible to study this heritage. The inscriptions in the Historical Monuments underline its architectural and technical value, while the park remains an emblematic place to visit the Nièvre.
