Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Lettenbach glass factory, located in a hamlet of Saint-Quirin in Moselle, was founded in the 3rd quarter of the 18th century. It became a royal factory under Louis XV, reaching its peak with eighty ovens in 1789. The production was organized by the Société anonyme des Manufactures de glaces et verres, which also included Cirey and Monthermé sites. Activity continued until the 19th century, marking the local economy by its industrial size and privileged status.

The chapel of the glassmakers, erected in 1756 according to the date engraved on its pediment, is the most remarkable element still standing. Designed by the Count of Guaita, a member of a learned society, it has a double-bulb bell tower covered in d'ardoise and a roof made of wooden shingles, rare features. Ranked a Historical Monument in 1984, it was initially used by the glasswork personnel before being assigned to the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity. Its architecture blends pink sandstone of the Vosges, a unique vaulted nave, and a circular bedside pierced with bays in the middle of the corner.

The origins of glassmaking date back to the 15th century, however, linked to the abbey of Marmoutier, which developed glassmaking there. In the 18th century, the site was modernized and expanded, including worker housing and administrative buildings, partially preserved today. A cave in Lourdes was later added to the adjacent park. Industrial remains are now limited, but the whole evidence of the historical importance of the Lorrain glassworks under the Old Regime.

Historical sources highlight its role in royal glassmaking, as well as its gradual decline after the Revolution. Local studies (Clad, Moppert, Kleine) document its evolution from its medieval beginnings to its transformation into a place of memory. The chapel, with its sober decor and unique architectural elements, remains a symbol of the industrial and religious heritage of the region.

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