Les Vieux Métiers d'Azannes

A life-size reconstructed village

In the heart of the Domaine des Roises, spread over 17 hectares of plain and forest, GEVO association volunteers have, over more than thirty years, built a true 19th-century Lorraine village. Twenty-five traditional houses, rebuilt stone by stone, house as many workshops where artisans practice their craft before the public: the forge rings under the blacksmith's hammer, the lace maker makes her bobbins dance, the baker puts his bread in the wood-fired oven, while the clog maker patiently carves beech wood.

Over 80 trades of yesteryear

Every Sunday the village is open, over 80 traditional trades are brought back to life thanks to the commitment of 400 costumed volunteers. Visitors wander freely from workshop to workshop to observe and chat with the artisans: tinsmith, tinner, woodturner, carpenter, saddler, spinner, milliner, basket maker, chair caner, and many more. Everyday trades are also represented: the washerwoman scrubs laundry at the washhouse, the oil miller presses walnuts, the miller operates the windmill — an emblematic piece of the site, rebuilt in 2003 on the site of a 1757 mill that belonged to the diocese of Verdun.

A story born of solidarity

The adventure began in 1985 in Grand-Failly, under the impetus of André Fauquenot. A few local artisans gathered to present their skills and raise funds for the construction of a memorial in honor of the 3,250 soldiers who fell at Bastogne in 1944. After a stop in Mangiennes in 1988, the festival settled in 1990 at the Domaine des Roises, an old farm surrounded by vast grounds. Since then, volunteers have continued to build, restore, and enrich this living heritage.

The great popular festival

The last Sunday of the summer season is traditionally the occasion for a great popular festival. Performers, equestrian shows, folk dances, old games, traditional music, and jugglers liven up the village. Local, Belgian, and Luxembourgish producers offer their specialties, transforming the Domaine des Roises into an open-air regional market. It is the highlight of the season, where Lorraine conviviality is fully expressed.

A place of transmission open to all

Beyond the Sundays open to the public, the Village des Vieux Métiers hosts school and educational trips throughout the year. Students discover ancestral gestures, handle tools, and participate in workshops led by volunteers. The Domaine des Roises also offers room rentals for weddings, seminars, and private events, in a unique natural and heritage setting in Lorraine.