Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Manufacture d'Abzac came into being in 1471, when Louis de Prie, lord of Fronsac, granted a lease to build a mill in Abzac, in a context of post-war reconstruction of Cent Ans. This mill, with four flour wheels and a textile utility, becomes a local economic pillar. At the beginning of the 17th century, Jean Fournier, his renter, bought the mill and added the castle of Abzac, forming an intact domain until today. The activity, initially focused on flour and fabrics, evolves with regional needs.

In the 18th century, the mill was deeply transformed under the impulse of Goderville's Anonymous, Lord of Abzac. Taking advantage of the boom in Bordeaux's Atlantic trade, particularly the growing demand for flour for the West Indies, he rebuilt the site entirely in 1780, from four to seven millstones and abandoned the Mailery. This modernization doubles production capacity, but the Revolution and maritime conflicts temporarily interrupt its activity. In 1796, the Rozier family acquired the estate and revived the mechanized mill.

The 19th century marked an industrial turning point: in 1866, the Roziers, associated with the Calvé family (specialised in Senegalese peanuts), transformed the mill into an oil mill, second in Bordeaux. However, growth is rapidly exceeding site capacity. In 1897, the business was transferred to Laubardemont, giving birth to Calvé-Delft. The mill, disused, became a micro-hydro power station in 1911, and in 1928 welcomed the Cartons d'Abzac, future Abzac SA, French leader in cardboard industrial packaging.

In the 20th century, Abzac SA undertook a complete restoration of the mill to restore its 1780 appearance, while modernizing its facilities. The site, partially classified as a historical monument in 1980, was completely reunited in 1994 after the start of EDF. This rehabilitation resulted in its final ranking in 2013. Today, Abzac's Manufacture combines preserved industrial heritage with contemporary economic activity, reflecting seven centuries of adaptation and innovation.

The site, located northeast of Abzac, includes buildings with a variety of architectures: stone or reinforced concrete workshops, offices in the former factory (central body and two wings made of cut stone), and an employer housing. The private archives and traces of the various activities (mills, oil plants, power plants) make this a rare example of industrial continuity since the Middle Ages. The hydraulic force, continuously exploited, symbolizes this resilience.

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