1987: The tobacco company SEITA (the former French state-owned tobacco monopoly) closes the doors of the Manufacture des Tabacs in Toulouse. Tobacco processing had already been moved to Colomiers eight years earlier in 1979. The building had been for sale since then for around 24 million Francs according to 1984 news outlets, with later estimates … Continue reading Saving la Manufacture des Tabacs Timeline of Events
The Manufacture des Tabacs is an iconic landmark of the late 19th century, representing industrial architecture in France. Being the formerly biggest employee of -predominantly female— workers in the pink city, the building preserves and maintains the outstanding heritage of Toulousain culture. Yet, in 1988 it was on the verge of being destroyed. This is … Continue reading Saving la Manufacture des Tabacs – The making of a political thriller: Interview with Bernard Durand
The origins of tobacco processing in Toulouse go back to 1674. Seeds were first grown in the South-West of France during the 17 th century. King Louis XIV was soon after the first to monopolize its distribution and sales under the state. In 1791, the French Revolutionaries abolished the monopoly, only for it to be … Continue reading Historical Origins
The TSEconomist 