Founded in 1859, former property of the Vidal-Bordes family, the Luxey resinous products workshop is a testimony to the time when the “Golden Tree” supported a workforce…
Founded in 1859, former property of the Vidal-Bordes family, the Luxey resinous products workshop is a testimony to the time when the “Golden Tree” supported a large workforce in each village of the Landes de Gascony. The site, a stone’s throw from the church and the town hall of Luxey, was from 1976 to 2010 a site museum linked to the Landes de Gascogne Regional Natural Park.
Its former director, Jean-Claude Ollagnier, who recently passed away, saw the benefit of showing and explaining what this type of productive activity was. The site had, however, been closed to visitors and thieves had even stripped it of its still used to produce rosin and turpentine.
However, the owner, the municipality of Sore, chaired by Serge Sore since 2014, has been keen to maintain the site and is now seeking to revive it. Hence, entrusted to Cassandra Sansoucy, this mission of reflection which addresses on the one hand the positioning of the place in the territory of Grande Lande.
Emblematic and educational
This industrial activity is representative of the history of “pinhadars”, of gemmage, of so-called economic railways and even refers to the evolution of social relations. On the other hand, the project manager thought about setting up and operating an exhibition. It is supported by a scientific council in which we find in particular enthusiasts of the heritage and history of the Landes or even the Gemme la forêt association, convinced of the possibilities of relaunching the production of resin (an eminently local but very widely imported today: 50,000 tonnes per year, mainly coming… from China).
Friday April 26, this scientific council visited the site, providing useful reflections and comments on these prospects for renovation of this future interpretation center, the estimated budget of which still amounts to 175,000 euros. In the summer of 2025, life on the site should normally resume.
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