La Rochère

France's oldest glassworks, active since 1475 in Passavant-la-Rochere. Siliceous sand, 1,400-degree furnaces, master glassblower's gesture. Artisanal (mouth-blown) and industrial (tableware) branches. Independent.

In 1475, as the Hundred Years' War drew to a close and before Columbus had even crossed the Atlantic, Simon de Thysac, a squire and gentleman glassmaker, lit the first furnace in Passavant-la-Rochère. The location in the Haute-Saône region was strategic, offering an abundance of wood for fuel and high-quality siliceous sand for glass production. Five hundred and fifty years later, those furnaces are still burning, making La Rochère the oldest glassworks in France still in operation. This is more than just a brand; it is a continuous industrial lineage that has survived the Wars of Religion, the French Revolution, and both World Wars without ever extinguishing its fires.

The manufacture maintains two distinct areas of expertise. Its artisanal branch focuses on unique, mouth-blown pieces - vases and carafes created by master glassblowers whose physical gestures have been passed down through generations. Simultaneously, its industrial branch produces high-quality pressed glass tableware, including the iconic "Abeille" (Bee) collection. Featuring the Napoleonic imperial bee in relief, these glasses have become a staple of the French table, recognized for their robust beauty and historic charm. Despite its long history, La Rochère remains a fiercely independent company, rooted in its original village and committed to using local materials. It stands as a rare treasure of French industrial heritage, proving that some gestures are truly timeless.