Construction of plant 1906 (≈ 1906)
Built drinking water treatment plant.
2007
Installation of Bollée wind turbine
Installation of Bollée wind turbine 2007 (≈ 2007)
Wind turbine marking the energy shift.
2012
Rehabilitation of the blade wheel
Rehabilitation of the blade wheel 2012 (≈ 2012)
Micro-hydro power station operational.
2015
Electricity generation
Electricity generation 2015 (≈ 2015)
Hydropower plant in operation.
2020
Opening of the reception area
Opening of the reception area 2020 (≈ 2020)
Water House becomes entry point.
2024
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 2024 (≈ 2024)
Protection of buildings and machinery.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The two factories in full with all the machinery preserved, the facades and roofs of the former turbine building, the facades and roofs of the housing-office-workshop complex, the facades and roofs of the director's house, the cast iron floorings and the design of the garden at the front, according to the plan annexed to the decree, all located at 45 rue de l'Esterel au Mans, appearing on the cadastre of the municipality section EH parcel No. 374, and at the Yvré-l'Évêque, appearing on the cadastre of the municipality section C parcel No. 887: inscription by order of 11 June 2024
Origin and history
The former Mans water plant, built in 1906, was originally dedicated to drinking water treatment. Today integrated into the Arch of Nature, it houses the Water House, an educational space open to the public since 2020. The site showcases historical equipment such as an 8.5-metre-diameter Sagebien blade wheel and a steam machine, illustrating the evolution of drinking water production techniques. Aquariums present the ecosystems of the nearby Huisne River, with local species (truits, barbels, vairons).
The venue also offers a permanent exhibition on energy, installed in the steam room. Interactive models and workshops address energy production, transport and savings, complemented by external devices: a Bollée wind turbine (2007), photovoltaic panels (2009), and a hydro micro-power plant (2012) that rehabilitates a second wheel with blades. Since 2015, this power plant has produced electricity, as part of an approach to enhancing industrial and ecological heritage.
The Water House serves as a pedestrian gateway to the Ark of Nature, a 450-hectare park attracting more than 500,000 visitors annually. The site, accessible by tram and bus, offers fun activities (bike rental, canoeing) and entertainment on natural environments (forest, meadow, river). The factory, classified as a Historical Monument in 2024, also retains protected architectural elements: facades, roofs, cast iron flooring, and a period garden.
The Arche de la Nature, managed by Le Mans Métropole, has been hosting theme festivals since 1997 (water, apple, honey) attracting up to 10,000 visitors per event. The site also plays an educational role, hosting 17,000 annual students for environmental workshops. A snake conservation policy, launched in 2006, identified hundreds of vipers and snakes, illustrating the balance between industrial heritage and biodiversity.
The factory is part of a network of theme houses (Forêt, Prairie) linking the city to the park. Its history reflects the transition from a utility site to an ecological awareness centre, combining technical heritage (machinery of the early twentieth century) and sustainable innovations. Visitors discover both the history of water supply and the contemporary issues of the energy transition.
Finally, the former factory symbolizes the rehabilitation of industrial heritage in Pays de la Loire. Its recent classification (2024) protects its buildings (houses, workshops, director's house) and its machines, while perpetuating its public use. The site, served by public transport and equipped with parking, remains an emblematic place of the metamorphosis of urban and natural landscapes in Le Mans.
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