Ferrière-la-Petite is a northern town in the Hauts-de-France region 10 km south of Maubeuge.
A Merovingian cemetery uncovered in the nineteenth century attests to the antiquity of the locality, even if it was "detached" from its neighbor Ferrière-la-Grande during the fourteenth century.
In the Middle Ages, the territory depends on the lords of Avesnes and the abbey of Hautmont. But it was in the eighteenth century that Ferrière-la-Petite took off when many potters specialized in sandstone settled there, joined a few decades by craftsmen creators of earthenware.
This last activity then contributes to the notoriety of the locality, to the subsoil rich in ferrous ores collected by the peasants and exploited by a Ferrière-la-Grande iron and steel unit.
In the nineteenth century, finally, marble is exploited, and some famous buildings like the staircase of the Royal Palace of Brussels are made with local marble.
During the twentieth century, the growth of industries in the agglomeration of Maubeuge led to the decline of local crafts.
There remains, however, a museum of pottery and some historical heritage. What interest visitors and tourists who will also appreciate the green environment of the village of a thousand inhabitants, which belongs to the Regional Natural Park of Avesnois.
Although modest, the historic heritage of the locality is worth a look. This is the case of the Saint-Médard church which dates from the fifteenth century for its oldest parts and was the subject of revisions in the 1840s.
The town hall is a beautiful building made of typical materials of the region: it was in the eighteenth century the second home of a rich notable, Lebrun Lamoral de la Vigne, whose son-in-law then created the main pottery of the village.
To see then, a Calvary dating from 1820 (whose statues were stolen), a statue of the Sacred Heart, and oratories along the paths and localities. In another register, one can walk to the quarry from which the white stones of the town hall come.
But even if you want to go back to the craft's past, a visit to the living museum of pottery, located in the well-known rue de la Cour des Potiers. Installed in fact in an old production unit, it is thus preserved a very remarkable and imposing reversed flame bottle-burning oven, classified Historical Monument (there are more than two in France). In addition, there are collections of decorative 18th century sandstone, utilitarian brown sandstone and later fine earthenware (19th century). In addition, the visit includes the discovery of a production workshop that perpetuates the technique related to salty blue sandstone, specific to the locality. In addition, for enthusiasts, creative courses are scheduled regularly. All information on +33 3 27 62 79 60.
A stage at Ferrière-la-Petite can be synonymous with many hikes in a green environment. Themed trails have been traced on the town itself and its immediate surroundings (circuits sandstone, alleys, potters, churches...).
It is also possible to take part of the Avesnois Greenway that crosses the territory (also accessible to cyclists). Maps and information on +33 3 27 62 11 93.
Do not forget anywhere else that even reduced (5.5 km²), the municipal area belongs to the Regional Natural Park of Avesnois (covering 125 000 hectares in the south of the department) which aims to highlight the natural and human heritage of the region (meadows, deciduous forests, orchards in bloom, rivers, mills, kiosks to dance, stone oratories...). Thematic hikes, discovery workshops and conferences are regularly offered. Information on +33 3 27 77 51 60.
Finally, note that fishermen can indulge their passion in the communal ponds of Garenne. They must contact the local association on +33 3 26 32 98 80.
