Where does Volvic stone come from ?

From the Puy de la Nugère at the north end of the Chaîne des Puys (volcano chain). During eruptions, four lava flows emerged and spread down the valley of Volvic . The last two flows, 12 000 years ago, were of trachyandesite lava – the origin of the famed Volvic stone. They formed a major reserve of this extraordinary material.

Quarrying of this stone started in the 13th century. Guy de la Tour , the bishop of Clermont, decided to build a cathedral. He chose Volvic stone for it, from an underground quarry near the town. From that point on, many who lived in Volvic became quarrymen; the underground quarries flourished. Some of the underground workings are still in evidence today ( la Maison de la Pierre ). From the 15th century, every lord wanted to have a great house built of Volvic stone. Early in the 16th century, the population of Volvic was 3 700. In 1793, this quarry town gained its autonomy. Orders grew and new quarries opened. Some were worked in the open, others, underground. A struggle between the two means of extraction flared up and continued for 100 years. In the end, only opencast quarries remained. From then on, the quarries grew in size and stoneyards proliferated in Volvic town. Sculptors drawn to the quality of this stone arrived from all over France .

The area’s economy flourished. But over time, the level of activity declined. It wasn’t until the 19^th century that the count of Chabrol Tournoël – then Prefect of the Seine – gave the industry its second wind. He founded the Volvic school of architecture to provide on-site training for the future stone craftsmen who would be indispensable in boosting the industry. In 1830, Volvic stone was used for the pavements of Paris ; up to the end of the 19^th century, most houses in Clermont, Riom and the surrounding areas were built of Volvic stone. The Count of Chabrol encouraged the quarries to modernise their equipment. At the start of the 20^th century, Legay Chevalier, a businessman, quarryman and sculptor, was using the latest developments in tooling in his workyard. He won several national gold awards. The skills of the stoneworkers were widely recognised. Volvic became reborn thanks to its stone.

In 1930, thanks to its exceptional resistance to acid, Volvic stone was used in the production of acid containers for the chemical and metal industries, which gave yet another boost to the town’s income.

Today, Volvic stone is regarded as unbeatable for many applications thanks to its remarkable properties:
- Density 2.3 to 2.7 (gm/cm³)
- Its hardness
- Its resistance to most acids
- Its resistance to very high temperatures (1 500°)
- Its resistance to traction and crushing
- Its weather resistance

For years, Volvic stone was used without anyone really knowing its geological characteristics. In 1752, the Parisian naturalist, Guettard, became the first to recognise the volcanic nature of our stone.
These days, Volvic stone enjoys international renown. It is little used in construction, but it is widely used for artistic sculpture, tombstones, ornamental sculpture, the restoration of listed monuments and in works of enamelled lava.
This great story, born out of the very innards of the Puy de la Nugère , has made Volvic in the 21^st century the town of stone and of water.

Lava enamelling
On 27 July 1791, Louis François Ollivier – a Parisian pottery manufacturer – took out the first ever French patent on stone enamelling. Various patents followed up until 1828. Lava was considered the only kind of stone that could be enamelled.
In the field of fired art, lava enamelling demanded some very complex techniques, as proven by the hugely diverse range of work that resulted – from wall decoration to furniture, from signage to decorative art.
These techniques were taught at Volvic’s school of architecture, with completed studies awarded a ‘New Technologies’ diploma.
Many artists and craftspeople chose lava enamelling both for its aesthetic qualities and for lava’s immense durability.
So art craftspeople have a good knowledge of the different kinds of lava. They know how to use different types of enamel and glass colouring according to the type of lava that matches their choice of technique, be it layered enamel or colours painted on plain or coloured surfaces.

Each artisan has his or her own individual approach, which is often the result of a range of technical knowledge.

Once a plaque of lava is enamelled, it is fired at temperatures of between 900° and 1000°. The enamel melts to reveal its colours. Once the kiln has cooled, the enamelled lava can be taken out and sold.