First written traces 1803 (≈ 1803)
Bexon family mill.
1950
End of production of hooves
End of production of hooves 1950 (≈ 1950)
Final cessation of the sabotery.
1970
Closing the mill
Closing the mill 1970 (≈ 1970)
End of milling activity on site.
28 février 2013
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 28 février 2013 (≈ 2013)
Registration of all buildings.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
All the buildings constituting the sawmill, mill, sawmill, forges, in total, including hydraulic installations, from the intake to the discharge to the river, and the ground of the plots on which they are situated (see Box II). A 458 to 460, 465, 993, cf. plan annexed to the decree): registration by order of 28 February 2013
Key figures
Famille Bexon - Historical owner
Owned the mill as early as 1803.
Origin and history
The Xamontarupt sawmill-moulin-saboterie-forge, located in the Vosges department, is an emblematic example of the small mountain industry. This versatile site, active from the beginning of the 19th century, grouped under one architectural ensemble various activities: the production of hooves, sawing of wood, milling and forging. The written traces mention a mill belonging to the Bexon family as early as 1803, suggesting an earlier use of the site, probably linked to local water and wood resources.
The spatial organization of the site reflects its functional diversity. Two groups of buildings structure the whole: in the centre, the farm is surrounded by the saboterie, a fish farm and a hall housing the sawmill. A second set in the shape of L includes agricultural outbuildings, domestic housing, as well as milling equipped with a forge. The latter still retains today its pair of wheels and its hydraulic drive mechanism, testimonies of the industrial techniques of the past. The production of hooves ceased in 1950, followed by the halt of milling in 1970, marking the gradual end of these traditional activities.
Ranked as historic monuments since 28 February 2013, the site is the subject of heritage enhancement through guided tours. The latter allow to discover the industrial history of the Vosges, where natural resources (water, wood) have shaped a local economy based on crafts and small production. The listing of historic monuments covers all buildings, including hydraulic installations and associated parcels, stressing the importance of preserving this technical and architectural heritage.
The site also illustrates the adaptation of mountain communities to geographical and economic constraints. In the Vosges, hydraulic mills and sawmills were often places of convergence for the inhabitants, combining food production (flour), wood processing (sabs, boards) and metal working (forge). These multipurpose units allowed for a relative autonomy of the villages, while creating local jobs, as evidenced by the dwellings of domestic servants still visible on the Xamontarupt site.
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