Initial construction XVIIe siècle (≈ 1750)
Construction of the two forges and start of activity.
1839
Final closure
Final closure 1839 (≈ 1839)
Stop production in the face of competition.
7 juin 1994
First protection
First protection 7 juin 1994 (≈ 1994)
Partial registration for Historic Monuments.
27 décembre 2017
Extended protection
Extended protection 27 décembre 2017 (≈ 2017)
Registration of the entire site and works.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Forges (Case C 10, 70): entry by order of 7 June 1994 (repealed); The upstream and downstream forges, the sawmill and the ware buildings and their works of art, their biefs and their basin, in total: the upstream forge, its biefs and its vannings; the water mirror, its dike and its water hold; culverts; the downstream forge, its bief and basin, as well as the water retention of the castle; bridges leading to the castle; the sawmill, its bay, its vanage and its basin; It consists of its residential buildings, its mill and factory, its entrance gate, its biefs, its vannages and its basin (cad. C 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 67, 70, 71, 72, 73, 154, 155 and 158; ZE 24, 26 and 30 and on the uncadastral road and river): registration by order of 27 December 2017
Key figures
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The source text does not mention any historical actors.
Origin and history
The forges of Rochefort-sur-Brévon, located in the Côte d'Or in the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region, are two industrial buildings dating mainly from the seventeenth century, although their activity continued into the eighteenth century. These forges, composed of a upstream and downstream ensemble, were closely related to the operation of the Maisey-le-Duc and Nod-sur-Seine blast furnaces. Their steel production, typical of the Châtillon region, reflected traditional metallurgical techniques before modern industrialisation.
The upstream forge is located in the heart of the village, near a bridge crossing the pond, while the downstream forge is integrated into the park of the local castle. The buildings, partially restored, retain architectural elements characteristic of their time, such as the bays, vannings and water basins, essential for their operation. These infrastructures, now protected, illustrate the ingenuity of pre-industrial systems using hydromechanical force.
The activity of the forges ceased in 1839, unable to compete with modern English-style factories. However, their historical importance was recognized by an inscription under the Historic Monuments in 1994, and extended in 2017 to include all the works (sawmill, splitter, bridges, and hydraulic systems). These protections underline their key role in Burgundy's industrial heritage and their architectural value.
The site is part of a broader steel tradition of Châtillonnais, a region marked by the exploitation of iron ore and forests for charcoal. The forges of Rochefort-sur-Brévon, along with those of Ampilly-le-Sec, bear witness to this major economic activity, which is now gone but documented by still visible remains. Their preservation allows us to study the technological and social transitions of the industrial revolution in France.
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