Festival of Pottery of the Écomusée du Perche

The Priory of Sainte-Gauburge: a Heritage Setting

The Écomusée du Perche is housed in the Prieuré de Sainte-Gauburge, a remarkable monastic complex founded in the 11th century in Saint-Cyr-la-Rosière. Classified as a historic monument, the site includes a priory church, conventual buildings, a dovecote, and gardens, forming an exceptional setting for the cultural events organized by the ecomuseum throughout the year.

The Festival of Pottery is part of the heritage and artisanal vocation of the ecomuseum, which preserves and transmits the traditional know-how of Perche, this natural region extending over Orne and Eure-et-Loir.

A Potters' Market in the Priory Church

The heart of the event is the potters' market set up in the nave of the priory church, offering an unusual and magnificent setting for the presentation of ceramic creations. Potters and ceramists from the region and beyond present their works in a wide variety of styles and techniques: stoneware, earthenware, porcelain, raku, glazed earthenware.

Visitors can admire the pieces, discuss techniques with the artisans, and acquire original creations in a place steeped in history.

Fire Arts on Display

The Festival of Pottery showcases the fire arts:

• Firing in the Priory's Ceramic Kiln: the ecomuseum's historic kiln is fired up, allowing visitors to observe traditional firing and understand the transformation processes of clay.
• Live Raku Firing: enameled pieces are plunged into the kiln heated to over 1,000°C and then rapidly cooled, creating spectacular crackling effects and colors.

These demonstrations are a highlight of the day, attracting an audience fascinated by the magic of fire and earth.

Activities and Pyrotechnic Show

Creative workshops are offered to children, allowing them to try their hand at clay modeling and take their creations home. Activities related to the fire arts punctuate the day.

In the late afternoon, a fire and pyrotechnic show is presented by a specialized artist, closing the festival in a magical and warm atmosphere, just before sunset. This final show links the fire arts practiced by the potters with the art of pyrotechnic performance.