In Maucomble, woodland landscape and industrial history come together at specific sites. The Puits Merveilleux lies in the heart of the ForĂŞt domaniale d'Eawy; the Maucomble glassworks was founded near this forest. A classified box tree in the cemetery offers another historical perspective. These subjects differ in nature and in the questions they answer for a stay.
Forest, chasm and hiking trail
The ForĂŞt domaniale d'Eawy, a state-owned forest, extends across Maucomble and other communes; the Puits Merveilleux is a chasm in Maucomble, in the heart of this forest. Access to the inside of the Puits remains prohibited to the public. The hiking trail is a separate matter: visitors can use the trail named after the Puits Merveilleux. The forest thus extends beyond this single site, while the prohibition explicitly applies to the interior. This gives visitors both a specific hiking option and a clear access restriction to bear in mind when planning.
During the site restoration completed in 2024, an educational information panel was installed at the Puits Merveilleux. It marks a more recent development at the site, alongside its longer-standing natural and historical themes.
The Maucomble glassworks
The Maucomble glassworks was founded in 1763 by the Ça que Ray family and established near the Eawy Forest. Its production required firewood, water sources and sand pits. The forest therefore provides more than just a geographical connection: the resources required also shed light on the conditions needed for glass production. The glassworks mainly produced bottles, flat glass, and clear or coloured glass. Bottles and flat glass represent different product forms; the reference to clear and coloured glass adds a distinction based on colour. The glassworks closed in 1812; the reasons given are the abolition of privileges and the Continental Blockade under Napoleon I. Its location, production requirements, products and closure thus offer several perspectives on local industrial history.
The classified box tree
The colossal box tree in the Maucomble cemetery has been listed as a classified site since 6 June 1942. This designation is a different historical reference from the history of the glassworks: it concerns the status of the box tree, not the business. Alongside the industrial past, it offers a distinct perspective on conservation and local history.
Dates and themes
The dates therefore cannot be read as a single chronology: 1763 marks the founding of the glassworks, 1812 its closure, 6 June 1942 the designation of the box tree, and 2024 the completion of the restoration at the Puits Merveilleux. Each date points to a different development—business, conservation or site history.
If you would like to combine nature and history, you can choose what to focus on according to your interests: the hiking trail is an activity visitors can enjoy, while the glassworks brings its location, raw materials and products to life. The box tree offers a distinct historical perspective shaped by its classification. In this way, landscape, local production and protected status stand side by side as different perspectives on Maucomble.
Discover more destinations: Héricourt-En-Caux, Criel-Sur-Mer, Londinières, Bolbec, Buchy, Incheville, Saint-Aubin-Sur-Scie, Les Trois-Pierres
For the broader travel overview: Seine-Maritime.
