Former Royal Cloth Factory

On your right, just before the Pont-Vieux, you’ll find the former Royal Cloth Factory. Restored back in 2013, this building recounts an important chapter in Carcassonne’s history. Wool trade had been the lifeblood of this city since time immemorial, all the way back to the 12th century! By the 14th century, Carcassonne was the top textile producer in the whole kingdom. They used wool as raw material and even exported their products to far-off places like Constantinople and Alexandria! But it wasn’t until the 18th century, some 600 years later, that Carcassonne’s cloth industry reached its apogee, thanks to the construction of factories like the one before you. Back then, a factory was a place where products were made by hand. The idea was to bring together all the operations required to produce fabrics in a single location. The factory was built in 1694 and became a royal manufactory just two years later, gaining a number of privileges that significantly boosted production. Royal factories enjoyed the support of the State, which granted them financial aid and other benefits to help them grow. Carcassonne thus became one of the most important cloth-making cities in all of Europe. In fact, Colbert, minister to Louis XIV, oversaw the construction of a dozen more royal factories in the Languedoc region, in a bid to compete with England and Holland, who had gained a foothold in the Ottoman Empire, the biggest customer at the time. The factories were a big success, and the Languedoc region enjoyed a true golden age in the following century. But then came the Industrial Revolution, followed by fierce competition from the English and the growth of the wine industry. Carcassonne gradually lost its status as big player in the cloth trade. It became known for its wines and cultural heritage instead, which gained recognition and value over the course of the 19th century. Yet the former royal factory still stands here as a living reminder of these glorious times. Today, it houses the city’s administrative center.