The Gorges of the Lizon

6 points of interest

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  History & Heritage

  The Romanesque church of Saint-Lupicin

  Classed a historical monument in 1906, this church dates back to the first half of the 11th century. It underwent many changes between the 17th and 20th centuries. A few years ago, the church was also subject to archaeological excavations carried out by a team from the CNRS - the French national centre for scientific research - (S. Bully, 2007), during which Saint-Lupicin’s tomb was discovered inside the current structure. The Romanesque church is said to have been built around the tomb.

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  History & Heritage

  The buttons of the Lizon plateau

  Much like the High-Jura plateau, the history of the Lizon plateau is closely tied to wood-turning. The villages on the plateau set themselves apart by manufacturing turned buttons. In 1830, the Lizon’s waterway was been equipped with mill wheels. Around 1900, electric turbines served to action several tens of wood lathes, to replace hand and foot wood turning methods. Tubes, whistles, nib holders, etc., were all made from turned bone. The idea of manufacturing buttons first appeared after the 1929 crisis, during which the American market collapsed. Originally made of galalith - a plastic manufactured using milk - they were later made using acetate, plexiglass and polyester. In 1960, injection moulding and the mass production of buttons became popular and served to revive the turning of decorative buttons. To date, High-Jura companies still account for over 80% of French button manufacturing.

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  History & Heritage

  Old “la Lunette” factory

  The Tournier brothers, manufacturers of glasses and nose clips, and traders in Morez, turned the site of the former 18th-century mill into an eyewear and wood turning factory in 1881. The Tournier brothers would later invest in the production of electricity, building a plant downstream of the factory. The sale of electricity produced on-site was both a financial guarantee for investors (the electricity was resold to local municipalities and workshops) and a sign of economic success. Their monopoly over this power source afforded them a prestigious social position.

  The company “les Fils d’Emile Tournier”, which was the first to manufacture glasses in moulded plastic, closed its doors in 1930.

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  History & Heritage

  The Cuttura dam

  This reservoir dam, built in 1903 by the Tournier company, was “intended to store the Lizon’s waters during floods and work stoppages for better distribution during working hours” (Agreement between petitioners, 1903). Located around 70 metres after the bridge, the dam also served to improve the factory’s ability to produce electricity to supply the neighbouring municipalities and to resell unused driving power to the nearby wood turning workshops. Sold to the Union éléctrique (electricity union) in 1937, this hydro-electric plant has now fallen into ruins.

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  Know-how

  The craftmanship discovery trail

  Scattered along an easy and enjoyable 3-kilometre trail, part of which follows along the Lizon river, fun works of art complete your visit of the High-Jura’s craftmanship workshop as you are guided on your way by pointing hands. The works of art (spinning top bridge, stained-glass dress, bell mechanism, etc.) were designed and created by local artisans.

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  History & Heritage

  The Atelier des savoir-faire (the craftmanship workshop)

  The building that once housed the old Bourbon factory, which used to manufacture ballpoint and fountain pens, is now home to the Atelier des savoir-faire (the craftmanship workshop) which aims to teach about many craft secrets. Five areas open to the public offer a better understanding of wood-turning and High-Jura craftmanship as well as a discovery of craft occupations. From raw materials to manufactures items, tools to practices, thousands of objects on display demonstrate such craftmanship. Temporary exhibits, events and courses are on offer at the Atelier all year round!