One of the thirteen mills along the river Sor
Durfort, The Copper Village
At one time Durfort’s thirteen water mills along the Sor were used to mill wheat and to drive looms. It was when the textile industry slid into decline in the 15th century that the mill owners displayed ingenuity in harnessing the waterwheels to “marteau pilons”, the huge pylon-hammers that pound copper ingots into vessels. Most of the houses in Durfort were copper ateliers up until 1930, just about everyone was involved in the production of copper ware. When the local graveyard was moved, it was discovered that the skeletons of the copper workers were green from the oxidized copper absorbed by their bones.
When the local ateliers were put out of business by cheaper copper imports from North Africa, Durfort re-invented its livelihood by shifting from manufacturing to retail. Today the copper boutiques on the square mostly sell the imported copper. Although the village replaced one of the Roman bridges with a bridge to the parking lot large enough for tour buses, cars and buses still prefer to park in the town square. The parking lot remains mostly empty except for le jour de fête, once a year.
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