Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Moulin Richard de Bas, located in Ambert in Livradois (Puy-de-Dôme), is one of the oldest paper mills in France still in operation. Its origin dates back to 1326, but its name comes from a family of 15th century papermakers, the Richards, while "Bas" designates its geographical position among six buildings aligned along a bief. This site illustrates the climax of the regional paper industry, where up to 400 factories produced paper from rags between Thiers and Ambert. The mill, partially classified as a historical monument since 1983, has retained its traditional tooling, including a blade wheel, mallet batteries and a wooden cabestan press.

Between 1400 and 1850, the mill transformed animal skins into parchment before adopting rags to make a famous pulp. In the 18th century, today's buildings (1720 years old on the portal) replace medieval structures, reflecting simple and functional vernacular architecture. In 1793, the invention of the paper machine marked the decline of the small mills, but Richard de Bas survived thanks to his intact mechanism and his specialization in art papers, used to restore works or print prestigious editions, such as the Encyclopedia of Diderot and d'Alembert.

In 1940, Marius Péraudeau (1906-1992), a stationery representative, purchased the abandoned mill and saved it from disappearance. In 1943, he founded the Historical Paper Museum and created the White Leaf Association, welcoming apprentices in graphic professions while sheltering resistors during the Second World War. Marshal Pétain ordered a watermarked paper at his emblem in 1940. Péraudeau collaborates with major artists (Dali, Buffet, Cocteau) to create exceptional works, such as the Apocalypse of Saint John (1958-1960), a unique book weighing 210 kg, adorned with calligraphed scrolls and contributions by seven painters and writers.

The mill went through difficulties before being relaunched in 1997 by Emmanuel Kerbourc In 2020, the SARL Moulins à papier du Val de Lagat obtained the label Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant, highlighting the perpetuation of a rare artisanal know-how. The site, sold in 2022 and bought in 2024 by Pascal Toupin, remains a place of production of high-end paper, used for heritage projects (Constitution of the Fifth Republic, Nobel Prize diplomas) or artistic, while offering visits to discover traditional techniques.

The elements protected since 1983 include facades, roofs, machinery rooms, dryers and barns, showing a preserved industrial and architectural heritage. The mill embodies both a technical heritage, a cultural resistance during the war, and an ongoing link between craftsmanship and contemporary creation, through partnerships with 20th century artists and writers.

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