Sars-Poteries: Glass, Ceramics and Local History

Sars-Poteries is shaped by its history of glass and ceramics. The MusVerre, the Moulin à Eau Delmotte and S'Art & Poteries represent different aspects of this cultural heritage: glass objects made through craft and artistic production, a preserved mill mechanism and local ceramic art. Two specific local landmarks add to this heritage: La Pierre de Dessus-Bise and the Église Saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul. Together, they offer a cultural and historical view of Sars-Poteries that distinguishes between collections, technical history and individual landmarks.

Glass history and collections

The MusVerre permanent exhibition includes the so-called “Bousillés”: glassworks made by the glassworkers of Sars-Poteries during their work breaks. Their connection to everyday working life sets these objects apart from the works in the contemporary collection. That collection began with 123 works donated by artists at the first International Symposium on Contemporary Glass in Sars-Poteries in 1982. The MusVerre therefore brings together glassworks from the local glassworks and a collection with a clear connection to contemporary art.

The MusVerre also preserves more than 1,300 semi-industrial glass objects from the Verreries de Sars-Poteries. These glassworks operated from 1801 to 1937. The number of objects in the collection and the period of operation shed light on different aspects of glass history: the number of preserved objects and the period during which the glassworks were operating. Those interested in the subject will find several points of interest, from the “Bousillés” made during work breaks to the donated works from the symposium.

Ceramic art and the mill mechanism

S'Art & Poteries represents a different artistic tradition. The collection comprises more than 1,000 catalogued pieces, most of which were donated. S'Art & Poteries promotes local historical and contemporary ceramic art through events and exhibitions. Unlike the MusVerre, the focus here is on ceramics rather than glass. If you want to include events or exhibitions in your plans, check the dates in advance, as schedules may change.

The Moulin à Eau Delmotte is listed as a museum and visitor attraction at 13 Rue de Dimont, 59216 Sars-Poteries. Its complete mill mechanism has been preserved; the hydraulic mechanism drives three pairs of millstones. These two details give a concrete sense of the scale of the installation: not just individual millstones, but the complete mechanism has been preserved, and the power transmission is connected to three pairs. Check the opening hours before visiting.

Local landmarks and regional orientation

La Pierre de Dessus-Bise stands on Place du Vieux-Marché. It is a conical monolith made of landénien sandstone, measuring 1.5 metres high and 2.8 metres wide at its base. La Pierre de Dessus-Bise is thought to be a menhir dating from the Gallic period, so this remains a possible interpretation. According to local folklore, infertile women who sit on the stone will become fertile. The story is part of local folklore.

The Église Saint-Pierre-Saint-Paul also offers specific points of reference for the town's history. It dates from 1877. Its features include a nave, a pulpit, a baptismal font and an altar relief. Together with the monolith, these offer a different perspective on Sars-Poteries than the collections: the focus here is on a single local landmark and the described features of the church.

For regional orientation, there are three access points to the Voie Verte de l'Avesnois in Sars-Poteries: on Rue de Dimont, Rue du Général Leclerc and Rue Scalier. This makes it possible to distinguish the locations of these access points in town from the longer route. The Voie Verte follows a former railway line for about 30 kilometres between Maubeuge and Fourmies; the line opened in 1885. The approximate length describes the regional route, while the three street names identify the access points in town. Check the signage locally, as work or changes to the signs may affect access information.

Discover more destinations: Caudry, Lannoy, Godewaersvelde, Ghyvelde, Dourlers, Condé-sur-l'Escaut, Wambrechies, Bierne.

For the full travel overview: Nord.