Ger shines a light on a craft that shaped the town over the centuries: the production of stoneware. Travellers choosing a destination for a specific cultural theme will find a story here that unfolds from several perspectives: its former production, the potters’ hamlet of Placître, and the collection at the Musée de la céramique – Centre de création. These facets make Ger an interesting destination for anyone who wants to learn not only about pottery, but also about the historic work behind it.

A long tradition of pottery

For several centuries, Ger was one of Normandy’s most important pottery centres and was known for its stoneware production. From the 14th century to the beginning of the 20th century, artisans in Ger produced sturdy stoneware pots for food storage on an industrial scale. Ceramic production thus served a practical everyday purpose: the vessels were used to store provisions. The scale of production in 1840 is precisely documented: Ger had 21 pottery workshops and more than 700 specialised workers. These figures show that the pottery tradition was sustained by numerous workshops and many skilled workers.

The potters’ hamlet of Placître

The tour at the Musée de la céramique – Centre de création takes visitors through a potters’ hamlet of around a dozen buildings. The Veron and Esneu families built them between the 16th and 19th centuries. This span of several centuries offers a different perspective from the production figures: here, the focus is on the hamlet’s buildings. The last firing in the potters’ hamlet of Placître took place in 1919. This date marks the end of firing at Placître and helps distinguish the long history of the buildings from the later history of production.

Pottery and tools at the museum

The Musée de la céramique – Centre de création preserves nearly 3,000 pieces from Ger, the Bessin and the Cotentin, as well as tools used to make these ceramics. Their provenance connects Ger with pottery from the Bessin and the Cotentin; the tools also draw attention to the manufacturing process. Together with the potters’ hamlet, the pieces and tools offer a different perspective from the historic buildings: they bring the ceramics themselves and their production into focus. In Ger, the history of production, the working environment of the hamlet and the collection can therefore be understood as different aspects of the same craft.

Workshops and courses

The programme at the Musée de la céramique – Centre de création includes family workshops during school holidays, as well as courses for professionals and beginners. The activities are aimed at different groups and complement the historical perspective with other ways of engaging with ceramics. Family workshops take place during school holidays; dates may vary. Check the specific programme dates before your trip. When choosing a cultural focus in Ger, you can explore the history of pottery, take a tour of Placître, visit the collection, or attend the workshops and courses on offer.

Discover more destinations: Quineville, Turqueville, Le Mesnil-Rogues, La Baleine, Heussé, Isigny-Le-Buat, Chaulieu, Saint-Jean-De-La-Rivière

For the wider travel overview: Manche.