We take you across France to discover some examples of increasingly rare craftsmanship. On the banks of the Loire River, Gilbert makes wooden moulds for some of France’s biggest hat designers. Some 600 kilometres south, in the Pyrenees, the profession of clog maker still exists. The proud inhabitants of the Bethmale valley continue to wear locally made clogs for special occasions. Last but not least, wooden boats known as barquettes have been sailing in and out of Marseille’s old port since the 18th century. Denis’s family have been making and restoring them for three generations.
The wonders of wood: Discovering rare French craftsmanship
