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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Haybes blast furnace, located in the commune of the same name in the Grand Est region, is an industrial vestige dated from the first quarter of the seventeenth century. This monument, classified at the Historical Monuments in 1991, preserves two faces of its schist bellows, whose inner walls exhibit a vitrification due to the high melting temperatures. These remains, partially buried for security reasons, are found in the forest of Herea (or Moraypré), in the middle of the forest, and now belong to the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations.

The architectural elements still visible, although limited, make it possible to imagine the extent of this old metallurgical factory. The presence of the site is attested by a 17th century text, although its construction may date back to the 16th century. The basements, partially buried, and the imposing mass of the remaining structures (several metres high) underline its historic importance in the local industrial landscape. The absence of other written sources makes it difficult to accurately reconstruct its operation or production.

The Moraypré site, isolated in the forest, illustrates the strategic location of blast furnaces near natural resources (coalwood, iron ore). These facilities, often distant from urban centres, played a key role in the rural economy of the time, providing raw iron for local forges. Their decline, often due to depletion of resources or the evolution of techniques, has left rare archaeological traces, such as those preserved in Haybes. These remains offer a material testimony of the beginnings of modern metallurgy in France, before the industrial revolution.

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