Les Rencontres d'Automne

Now in its 4th year, in 2025, Les Rencontres d'Automne will enhance Blanzy's cultural season by offering local people a forum for sharing their passions and expertise: history, heritage, science, art, literature, nature, and so on. Six events will combine oral presentations and a permanent poster exhibition, embodying the spirit of sharing and meeting.

Thursday 9 October at 6.30pm
Michel Montmaron - The Malpasset disaster. Why did it happen? Why? How?
On Wednesday 2 December 1959 at 9.13pm, the Malpasset dam burst, killing more than 420 people in the Fréjus region. We will try to understand how such a tragedy could have happened.

Friday 10 October at 6.30pm
Jean Szmatula - The Münzing factory in Blanzy
Münzing was founded in 1902 by Émile Wanner. It was based in Blanzy and Montceau-les-Mines. Come and discover its history, illustrated by documents, photos, foundry models and a publicity film, all saved from destruction at the last minute. A quick question: where does the name Münzing come from?

Thursday 16 October at 6.30pm
Jean Pirou - The saga of French panoramic wallpaper, from 1804 to the present day. Example of the Savianges panoramic, manufactured by Velay (1817)
This decorative art consists of applying a wallpaper decoration that closes in on itself to the four walls of a room. It was invented by Joseph Dufour (1754-1827), born in Tramayes. He set up a factory in Mâcon before settling permanently in Paris. Panoramic wallpapers toured the world, establishing the reputation of good French taste.

Friday 17 October at 6.30pm
Alain Desbrosses - The remarkable trees of Saône-et-Loire
In 1993, Alain Desbrosses began work on an inventory of the remarkable trees of Saône-et-Loire. The inventory, which has been extended to the other three Burgundy départements, now includes more than 1,100 entries. The remarkable character of these trees is due to their biological nature or the cultural aspects associated with them. Blanzynois Alain Desbrosses has published a two-volume collection on the Remarkable Trees of Burgundy.

Thursday 23 October at 6.30pm
Alain Dessertenne - Les Messageries du Charolais: a postal service from the 16th to the 18th centuries
After a brief reminder of the unique history of the county of Charolais and a summary of Pierre Nougaret's work on postal history in Burgundy (1960), a reconstruction of the courier routes from Charolles to Dijon between the 16th and 18th centuries will be presented, one via Toulon, the other via Mont Saint-Vincent, bringing to life the old routes between the Capital of the Dukes and the City of the Bold.

Friday 24 October at 6.30pm
Jean-Jacques Pagnier - Scanning and rapid prototyping, presentation and demonstration
Starting with an existing part, or using design software that can be used from the age of 10, how to reproduce or create objects or functional elements. Demonstrations are available. Located at the Creusot IUT, the UtoPi FabLab is open to anyone who wants to create, design and share ideas and projects, by exchanging knowledge and skills. Whether you're a professional, an individual, a project owner, a student, a DIY enthusiast, an artist, etc... UtoPi is for you!

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