Musee Calbet permanent broom exhibition — ©Musee Calbet permanent exhibitionbrooms|gCom

Le Balai Made in Grisolles

For the record, the broom factories came into being when Pascal Peyrebrune, steward of the horse-drawn post office, saw his job disappear with the arrival of the railroads. During his many travels, he noticed that sorghum grew well in the Garonne valley. In 1885, the first broom factory was set up. Many Grisollais followed his example.

©Anciennes Cartes Postales De Grisolles, Femmes Cousant Des Balais, Archives Du Musée Calbet (2)|Musée Calbet

©Old Postcards From Grisolles, Women Sewing Brooms, Calbet Museum Archives (1)|Musée Calbet

©page from the Massot and Boutines catalog, Calbet museum archives

Yesterday's industry

Between 1875 – 1880 and 1918, the village of Grisolles had 20 workshops, providing work for 400 workers – a quarter of the Grisolles population. At the height of its activity, 6,000 brooms left the village every day: thanks to an efficient distribution network, they watered a good part of France, and from 1908, were exported en masse as far away as England.

For a century, Grisolles was the French and even European capital of straw brooms!

How did the workshops differ?

Each broom manufacturer was identified by a label.

Among them, the “Fer à Cheval” from the GRANET workshops boasted of being the lucky charm of the household!

©Old Advertising Balai Granet, Museum Archives|Musée Calbet

©old advertising Mondoulet workshop, museum archives

Jean-Marc's advice

Always store your broom with the handle down. A broom lasts a long time … as long as you don’t leave it in the fireplace!

Today's industry

There’s only one broom workshop left in Grisolles: Atelier Coulom.

Jean Marc COULOM is the last remaining sorghum broom manufacturer, heir to exceptional craftsmanship. Each broom is carefully designed and handcrafted to be durable and functional. Le 5 fils, le Balejon, le moquette, le fanette; each broom has its own name and specific use.

He welcomes visitors to his modest workshop only in the afternoons.

The broom in the spotlight

at the Musée Calbet

Among the many historical and ethnographic collections at the Musée Calbet, one stands out for its uniqueness and originality: that which pays tribute to the ancient broom industry.

In one of the museum’s alcoves, a broom-making workshop has been painstakingly reconstructed. The Musée Calbet houses a unique collection of objects relating to the old broom industry.

Le Balai Made in Grisolles

Yesterday's industry

How did the workshops differ?

Today's industry

The broom in the spotlight

at Atelier Coulom and Musée Calbet

And you didn't see it all?