The surroundings: Morogues and La Borne
The village of Morogues it’s in a valley in the Berry region of France, just one kilometer away from Castle de Maupas. Its population, a little over four hundred people, it’s mostly formed by farmers, potters and viticulturists. The main holiday in the village is St. Paul’s Day, celebrated on January 29th. St. Paul is the patron saint of bakers and viticulturists.
The church in Morogues was built in the Twelfth Century, and it was built in the Roman style. Its patron saint is Saint-Symphorien, who is celebrated on August 22th. The whole building, indoors and outdoors, is under restoration until 2018, with plans calling for attention first to the bell tower, and then the shed, chapel and choir.
The scenic hamlet of La Borne is less than five miles away from the Castle and is well regarded historically in France for its manufacture of stoneware, as is considered the place of origin of the pottery tradition in Morogues and the surrounding villages. There are a lot of potters and sculptors living in La Borne since the 1960s, and their work is on display in their workshops, open to the public.
These artist use different kind of materials: majolica, azulejo, terra sigillata and stoneware clay. Their various techniques include bisque and raku, and sometimes they add varnish to their pieces, fired in wood ovens of different size and shapes. During the summer there's a time called “wooden oven days”, when visitors are allowed to watch potters at work, and there are some other activities regarding these majestic baking tools.
The Contemporary Ceramics Center of La Borne is an important part in the world of this art and trade since 2009. All year round it’s home to temporary exhibitions, and it offers workshops for children and grown-ups. The Center is a local, national and international point of reference for the appreciation of contemporary arts.