Thiers – Cutlery Capital of France

Thiers is an old medieval city in the center of France in the Auvergne region, famous for it’s cutlery trade. Some references to blade making and cutlery date back as far as the 11^th century. The Durole river determined the city’s importance in the cutlery trade due to the endless free energy it provided. Originally the blades were hand forged in the mountains, then sent down a line of craftsmen who would in turn grind and polish the blade, heat and form the horn grips, fit the knife together, and then give it a final polish and sharpening. As the industrialization of the trade progressed the craftsmen began working in large factories on the banks of the Durole with various suspension bridges connecting their productions. During this industrial time Thiers positioned itself as the largest cutlery producer in France. The craftsmen organized themselves into syndicates based on their specific work, and themselves ran community gardens on the southern slope of the city. Saint Eloi, patron saint of cutlers was celebrated twice a year with large community feasts and Thiers grown wine.

Thiers knife factories close, and independent artisans open

With the advent and utilization of electricity there was little need to continue operating the water-driven forges and grinding houses along the Durole. Artisans and cutlers developed independent shops and the brick factories have been left to crumble and rust. The city has developed a fantastic museum in the Usine du May detailing the hydro-powered factory system. Visitors may also walk the factory valley, or Vallee des Usines, to see how long and complex Thier’s factory district was. Many of the derelict factories even contain piles of blade blanks, steel samples, or grinding wheels.

Over 100 cutlery shops in Thiers

Theirs today remains an important cutlery center for France. There are over 100 cutlery businesses still operating in Thiers, and the city center consists of many artisan shops containing all varieties of knives. Elephant and walrus ivory (from old French colony stockpiles) is still used and may be found alongside bone, horn, rosewood or even mammoth ivory handled knives. The city’s cutlery shops sell knives made by the owner but also their neighbors with almost as much enthusiasm. Cutlers still living and manufacturing in Thiers share one trademark “T” alongside the particular cutlers name. This ancient cooperation and cohabitation made Thiers the singular destination for all cutlery enthusiasts and consumers, and continues to benefit all it’s resident cutlers today.

Things to do in Thiers, France

Vallee du Usines: Walk along the Durole river and see the many factories once housing forgers, grinders, and all manner of cutlers. A well organized path with placards give history about each building down the Durole.

Vallee du Rouets: Four kilometers out of Thiers is an old valley of the grinders, where visitors may walk down the river and see the former sites of the city’s almost legendary grinders.

Usine du May: A former cutlery factory turned into a museum of industrial age manufacturing.

Cutlery Shops: Countless artisan shops in the city center will carry almost any knife or bladed tool available.

Musee de la Coutelerie: A museum dedicated to the cutler’s trade detailing the process of knife production and it’s particular history in Thiers.

Garden L’Hopital: An old garden along the southern banks of the Durole river, and below the city’s former medieval fortified wall. The cutlers of Thiers grew all manner of plants here, including wine grapes and vegetables.