Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The chimney of the former glass factory BSN-VMC, located in Givors, is the last witness of an industrial site founded in 1749 under the name of the Royal Glassworks of Givors. Created by a royal judgment granting a manufacturing privilege to Swiss and franc-comtois masters glassmakers (including Michel Robichon and Jean Alliman), the factory operates the coal of Rive-de-Gier and the sand of the Rhône. Its development was linked to the arrival of the Givors Canal in 1780, reducing transport costs.

In the 19th century, glassware modernized and expanded, becoming a major player in hollow glass (bottles, bonbons). In 1853, she joined the Compagnie Générale des Verreries de la Loire et du Rhône and merged in 1966 to form BSN (Boussois Souchon Neuvesel). The factory, bombarded during the Second World War, mechanized in the 1920s with machines O Its decline began in the 1970s with the diversification of BSN into food (Danone), leading to its final closure in 2003.

The fireplace, 51.65 m high and equipped with a water castle added in 1929, is preserved despite the destruction of the other buildings in 2006. Built of bricks, chewer and reinforced concrete, it illustrates industrial technical developments. Ranked a historic monument in October 2021, it symbolizes Givors' glass heritage, marked by the immigration of Swiss and German families specializing in this profession since the 16th century.

The history of the site also reflects the economic changes: from the 18th century glass crafts to the mass production of the 20th century, including family alliances (Robichon, Alleman, Souchon) and innovations such as the coal oven. The glass factory, which employed up to 300 people, shaped Givors's working identity before giving way to globalization and industrial conversion.

Today, the chimney stands on the wharf Eugene Souchon, the last material testimony of a disappeared activity. Its octagonal base and conical barrel recall 19th century industrial architecture, while its built-in castle in 1929 bears witness to the technical adaptations of the 20th century. Owned by the commune, it offers a historical landmark in the givordin landscape.

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