Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye is a typical village of Burgundy-Franche-Comté of 1225 souls, nestled in the north of the Nièvre department, just 20 minutes from the town of Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire and 15 minutes from the villages of Saint Fargeau as well as Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye.
The village of Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye has such a reputation thanks to the most generous wealth of its soil: its clayey soil. More than 30 potters, ceramists and creative craftsmen shape and innovate pieces of art in the village.
Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye, capital of pottery
The first traces of pottery production date back to the 14th century and the name having evolved, the village of Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye bore the name “Poiseia” in the middle of the Middle Ages and then became “Puisaye” at the end of this period. It was under the leadership of the Rochechouart family, who owned the commune's castle, that the Bleus de Saint-Vérain (neighboring village), famous sandstones from the 16th and 17th centuries, were born.
What to visit in Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye?
The town of Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye is one of the 6 characterful towns of Burgundy-Franche-Comté in the Nièvre department. Inheriting a rich pottery heritage, each site present in the commune of Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye traces the artisanal memory of these places through exhibitions and guided tours.
The sandstone castle museum of Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye
Built between 1530 and 1540 in the middle of the Renaissance period, the town's castle was once a feudal fortress. Among the collection of decorative, useful or artistic ceramics from the 18th century to the present day present in the Sandstone Museum, two important figures of French ceramics are honored there: Jean Carries (-1855 1894) and Albert Vallet (1923-2015). Ephemeral art exhibitions take place several times a year in the Grès museum and in the Art et la Matière gallery. At the entrance to the castle park, unique large-scale sandstone pieces recall the importance of this art in the town.
The house of pottery memory
In the Faubourg des Poteries is the House of Pottery Memory, one of the last intact sites of 18th century pottery production in Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye. Transformed into a museum, the old pottery workshop of Monsieur Gaubier, known as Cadet-Gaubier, today “Maison de la Mémoire Potière” allows everyone can benefit from a guided tour with the aim of reviving this pottery adventure ranging from the extraction of the earth to the kilning of the stoneware pieces.
The Boutique Art d'ici, the showcase of the artistic crafts of Puisaye-Forterre
La Puisaye-Forterre embodies recognized know-how for artistic crafts, and more particularly for ceramics. This particularity has established itself over time, and has been supplemented by other forms of creation which have come to support this offer. This space is intended a true showcase of know-how. The space presents thematic exhibitions/sales throughout the year and a Christmas shop.
Artisan workshops and shops
Two large-scale annual pottery events in Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye
For several decades, pottery has been honored in Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye through two traditional events.
01
Pinnacle of collectible ceramics
Easter weekend in the castle. Open to all fans of old sandstone, collectible, used, decorative and creative from the 18th to the 20th century.
02
The Pottery Festival
Open to all pottery artisans in France, it takes place Ascension weekend. Discover different sandstone pieces from the four corners of France.
You may also like… Potters and arts and crafts exhibition spaces in Puisaye-Forterre
Hiking circuits departing from the village
Bordered by the Poyaudine forest, walking in Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye is as sweet as the song of the birds. Several hiking trails in the countryside will be offered to you, each of which addresses a different theme linked to the heritage of the village.
- The Carriès trail: To take this path is to enter the life and work of Jean-Joseph Carriès. Easy 8km circuit.
- The Fort House: From the castle at the very beginning of the route to the remains of the Maison Fort castle, the circuit allows you to discover the Etang de la Forge and the Chemin du Tacot. Easy 9km circuit.
- The meanders of Vrille: This circuit will mainly focus on the aquatic fauna and flora of the Vrille river as well as these bohures (poyaudin live hedge) and their tadpoles with sometimes mysterious shapes. Easy 7km circuit.
