The history of the Argentière mine in La Londe les Maures
Nestling between the sea and the mountains, the charming commune of La Londe les Maures is best known for its vineyards and beaches. A popular holiday destination during the tourist season, this renowned seaside resort on the Côte d'Azur is home to an exceptional place, a vestige of a 'rich' and fascinating history: l'Argentière and its mine, which gave its name to this popular and emblematic place.
Its history probably dates back to the Middle Ages, when silver was sought. In 1875, a wealthy financier from Marseille, Victor Roux, acquired the Domaine des Bormettes and rediscovered the mine. He revived the activity and the Argentière mine enjoyed a flourishing period. At the end of the 19th century, other metal-bearing veins were discovered in the commune and in Bormes and Collobrières. In 1897, a lead smelter was built, equipped with Europe's longest tunnel smelter, almost a kilometre long.
Miners, mainly from Italy, flocked to the area, helping to create a village with the feel of a "corons". The population grew from nearly 900 to over 3,000 in the space of 20 years. La Londe, then part of the commune of Hyères, became independent on 11 January 1901, the official date of its detachment. Expansion continued for a few more years at the beginning of the last century, before the seams were exhausted and metal prices plummeted. Productivity gradually declined until 1929. The mine was made safe in the early 2000s. All that remains today is a 90-metre-long railway sleeper. You can visit the mine on request from the Office de Tourisme Méditerranée Porte des Maures.
The Domaine de l'Argentière sits on the ancient seams above the beach of the same name, and boasts a number of prestigious residential properties. It is home to a period villa and dwelling, which have remained intact but are inaccessible to the public. The dwelling housed the miners' administrative offices and canteen. Some of the walls of the ore processing plant have stood the test of time and can be seen from the beach. The wharf used by the maritime rescue service was built for the needs of the mine, and the jetty is built on an old mining pier. But it's hard to imagine today that this popular spot for holidaymakers and bathers was one of France's largest metal deposits at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries!
The Méditerranée Porte des Maures Tourist Office offers guided tours on request. > mpmtourisme.com/patrimoine-culturel/mines-argentiere
