Amplepuis

In this region the vine-covered hillsides give way to a landscape of tall dark green pines and wooded meadows. The Upper Beaujolais region, in which Amplepuis is situated (70kms. to the West of Lyons), is in fact the realm of the Douglas fir tree. These fir trees originating in the United States cover a great part of this region because of their numerous advantages: they grow rapidly, they are very tall (30metres on average) and their soft pine needles give off a pleasant smell of citronella. It is by means of a little road winding through these immense forests that you arrive in Amplepuis. This little town which is very dynamic on a cultural level is proud to be the adopted town of Barthélémy Thimonnier, the inventor of the sewing machine. He is a little known “genius” for his invention did not really interest the industrialists of the time. A windfall for Mr; Singer who, according to some, simply and purely stole his invention. Set up in the former chapel of the hospital, the Thimonnier museum pays homage to the man who for a long time received none. It presents the evolution of the sewing machine through the ages as well as an important collection of cycles or models.

But that is not all there is to Amplepuis. Its church, built at the beginning of the C.19th possesses interesting furniture. You will appreciate notably a pulpit of 1845, declared national heritage and that was made by the talented Erhard.

Also to be noted for those interested in industrial tourism, the Déchelette quarter named after a great industrialist of the area. Indeed, this site offers a perfect illustration of the spatial organisation inspired by catholic socialism with: the factory, the director’s house, the chapel, the co-operative store and school, all surrounded by the workmen’s houses and gardens. A leftover of the economic boom of this region and the testimony of a past not completely lost.

Information
Tourist Office of the Val de Reins and the town of Amplepuis
Tel: 04 74 89 01 71