The Richard de Bas paper mill, located in Ambert in the Puy-de-Dôme region, has been awarded several prestigious labels. Listed in the Inventory of Rare Crafts and classified as a historical monument, this water mill is now officially part of the Living Heritage Companies (EPV), which distinguishes exceptional French know-how.
Created in 1326, this paper mill is one of the few mills in Europe that still makes paper by hand from fabrics. And if it welcomes 30,000 visitors each year, it is not only a tourist place: it produces and sells paper sheets, from which it gets 60% of its turnover. This commercial activity is one of the criteria of the label.
"We had been thinking about this label for several years, but we hadn't taken the step, explains Sylvain Péraudeau, who runs the Auvergne mill with Emmanuel Kerbourc'h. Recently, we were selected for the label France savoir-faire d'excellence by the association Entreprise et Découverte which promotes visits of these companies to a foreign public. On this occasion, in the fall of 2019, we were received in Paris at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. And 80% of France's know-how of excellence are EPV. This definitely made us decide to take the plunge!
The paper maker adds: "The covid has delayed things, but we are now part of the Living Heritage Companies! This label will bring us additional visibility and notoriety. It is also a recognition of our work and this place."
The EPV label is awarded for a period of five years. "Its renewal will depend on the continuity of our manufacturing, commercial opportunities and institutional use of our papers."
And soon to be a UNESCO world heritage site?
And Sylvain Péraudeau has other ambitions for his paper mill. He wants to join other European mills in having it listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. "This project, initiated by the Duszniki-Zdroj mill located in Poland, is a serial nomination request that would involve about ten mills from all over Europe. UNESCO will focus on the building and the place. The files are long to put together and there are many requirements to be met that we do not know at the moment. But it's a beautiful project."
