A unique vestige of the Paris match factories, the site, built in 1874, saw the rise of chimneys and buildings until 1957. The factory was reborn in 1967 with the Documentation Française, before welcoming an institute training curators and restorers.
In the 19th century, a law forced Parisian match manufacturers to seek out cheap, isolated land around the capital. Pantin and Aubervilliers then became prime locations for these booming industries. Three factories were established in Pantin in the 1850s, including the Rimailho brothers' factory on what is now Avenue Édouard-Vaillant, and one in Aubervilliers, the Delabarre factory on Rue du Vivier.
These factories employed men, women, and children, often in harsh conditions. The white phosphorus used made the work dangerous, causing terrible illnesses, until the red phosphorus of "Swedish matches" provided a healthier alternative. In 1872, the French government established a match monopoly: the Pantin and Aubervilliers factories were merged, and Pantin became the largest French production site, producing over 13 billion matches in 1887. In Aubervilliers, a modern match factory was built in 1905, equipped with Sévène-Cahen machines that automated production and improved safety. With its bricks, wide driveway, and monumental 45-meter chimney, it became an industrial and urban landmark. But the rise of disposable lighters led to its decline, and the factory closed in 1962.
While the industry has since disappeared, the site has found new uses: a French Documentation Center, a training center, and then a National Heritage Institute since 2015. The chimney, a protected historic monument, still serves as a reminder of the working and industrial heritage of Aubervilliers.
These factories employed men, women, and children, often in harsh conditions. The white phosphorus used made the work dangerous, causing terrible illnesses, until the red phosphorus of "Swedish matches" provided a healthier alternative. In 1872, the French government established a match monopoly: the Pantin and Aubervilliers factories were merged, and Pantin became the largest French production site, producing over 13 billion matches in 1887. In Aubervilliers, a modern match factory was built in 1905, equipped with Sévène-Cahen machines that automated production and improved safety. With its bricks, wide driveway, and monumental 45-meter chimney, it became an industrial and urban landmark. But the rise of disposable lighters led to its decline, and the factory closed in 1962.
While the industry has since disappeared, the site has found new uses: a French Documentation Center, a training center, and then a National Heritage Institute since 2015. The chimney, a protected historic monument, still serves as a reminder of the working and industrial heritage of Aubervilliers.
