Construction of mill XIXe siècle (≈ 1865)
Period of initial building construction.
1898
Acquisition by Briançon
Acquisition by Briançon 1898 (≈ 1898)
Transformation into a workshop of artificial flowers.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Établissements Briançon de Levallois - Industrial owner
Acquirer of the mill in 1898 for production.
Origin and history
The Moulin de la Fleuristerie, located in Orges in the Great East, is a 19th century mill whose history is marked by an original industrial conversion. Acquired in 1898 by the Briançon establishments in Levallois, specialized in the production of artificial flowers and fruit near Paris, the site was transformed into a manufacturing workshop. This activity, initially destined for a broad market, gradually re-entered the haute couture, continuing until today, although on a small scale.
The outside structure of the mill retains its traditional appearance, with a rectangular plan characteristic of the mill of the time. Inside, all the machines, still in place, illustrate the different stages of production of artificial flowers. These machines still work thanks to the hydraulic power of the mill wheel, supplemented by a turbine generating electricity. This system, preserved in its original state, offers a rare testimony of 19th-century industrial techniques adapted to craft production of precision.
The building, now owned by a private company, remains open to the public during guided tours organised from April to October, with an increased frequency in July and August. These visits allow us to discover an industrial heritage still in operation, where we combine technical history and artisanal know-how. The location of the site, at 4 Chemin de la Fleuristerie, is attested in the Merimée base, although its geographical accuracy is considered mediocre (level 5/10).
