Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The lime oven of Donnemarie-Dontilly is an industrial vestige of the 3rd quarter of the 19th century, located in the commune of Donnemarie-Dontilly, Seine-et-Marne. This monument, now protected, bears witness to the local economic activity linked to the production of lime, a material essential for construction and agriculture at that time. Its listing in the inventory of Historic Monuments by decree of 17 April 1931 underlines its heritage and architectural importance.

In the 19th century, lime kilns were key infrastructures in rural and peri-urban areas, used to transform limestone into either live or extinct lime. These facilities were able to meet the growing needs for building materials, including mortars, coatings and agricultural soil modification. Their presence often reflected a local economic organization, where crafts and small industries played a central role in community life.

The location of the Donnemarie-Dontilly lime oven, mentioned as being approximately at the 35 Old Route de Mons, indicates its integration into a landscape marked by agricultural and artisanal activities. Although the precise details of its operation or its owners are not provided in the available sources, its classification in 1931 attests to its historical value and the desire to preserve this industrial heritage.

Available data, notably from the Merimée database and Monumentum, indicate that the oven is now considered an 'old' lime oven, suggesting that it is no longer in operation. Its state of preservation and its accessibility to the public are not explicitly documented, but its location is considered 'a priori satisfactory' with a score of 7 out of 10 indicating a relative reliability of the available geographical information.

The inscription of the lime oven among the Historical Monuments in 1931 is part of a period when France began to recognize and protect its industrial heritage, often neglected in favour of religious or aristocratic monuments. This early classification for a work of this type underlines its exceptional or representative character of the techniques and know-how of the time.

Finally, the sources mention a Creative Commons license for photographs associated with the monument, which facilitates the dissemination and enhancement of this heritage. However, no information is provided concerning any visits, rentals or contemporary uses of the site, suggesting that it could be mainly intended for preservation rather than for tourist or commercial exploitation.

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