Bagneaux-sur-Loing
Bagneaux-sur-Loing is a commune in the southeast of Seine-et-Marne, Île-de-France, located between Nemours and Souppes-sur-Loing with both the Canal and River Loing running through it.
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History
It developed as a hub for glass making in the 18th century due to its proximity to Fontainebleau Forest, which provided high-quality sand. In 1751, a royal glass-works was established in the area, later evolving into a significant producer of glassware, particularly under Saint-Gobain's control during World War I. Pyrex production began in the 1920's, catering to scientific industries.
By the 1950's, demand for glass products surged, leading to a doubling of the town's population as skilled glass-workers settled there. However, competition from alternative materials like plastics and metals caused a decline in the industry during the 1970's. The multinational Corning purchased the glass-works in 1975 but ceased operations by the end of the decade. Efforts to revive the industry, including cathode tube production, failed in the 1990's.
Today, the local glass industry has all but disappeared, and Bagneaux-sur-Loing's population has declined by a third since the 1960's, though it still retains over 1,500 residents, many of them retired glass-workers and their families.
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Places
Parc de street WorkOut