Is that a long stone snake winding up the hillside? That’s no serpent it’s the Cheminée de Mante. This unusual structure tells a tale of Marseille’s industrial past. It highlights both innovation and environmental challenges.
The Cheminée de Mante is a type of industrial construction. It is characteristic of the hills around Marseille. These structures began appearing in the early 19th century. They were built to serve the soda and lead industries. These industries unfortunately produced significant pollution.
Back then nearly 20 soda factories operated in and around Marseille. Around sixty soap factories also used soda. The Leblanc process was a common method for manufacturing soda at the time. However this process created byproducts that had to be disposed of. Eight lead processing sites added to the toxic emissions.
The Cheminée de Mante addressed a critical problem. It dealt with evacuating gaseous effluents filled with harmful particles. Factories used chimneys. They made them as tall as possible. They sometimes decentralized them from the factory itself using flues.
The region’s steep hills gave industrialists an idea. They constructed chimneys against the slopes. This released emissions at a much higher altitude than typical chimneys. To trap as much gas as possible condensation chambers were built. These chambers were long zigzagging corridors along the hillside. They forced smoke to travel a longer path. This cooled the vapors. It caused them to condense and deposit on the walls. Solid particles and harmful gases were trapped.
However the Cheminée de Mante only shifted the pollution. It did not solve it. It displaced it in space and time. This created problems that remain unresolved to this day.
As you walk closer you might notice the long stone vaults. They run along the hillsides. They are roughly at eye level. The Cheminée de Mante is a reminder of past industrial practices.
One such Cheminée de Mante belonged to the Legré-Mante factory. It was located in Montredon. This factory was known for producing tartaric acid. This acid has many uses. It is found in effervescent tablets. It is used in winemaking. It is even used in metal polishing. The Cheminée de Mante was meant to vent heat and trap pollutants. However the structure became heavily contaminated.
Reports indicate very high levels of toxic chemicals. The soil around the Cheminée de Mante contains alarming amounts of lead arsenic and cadmium. The interior walls are coated with layers of these toxic elements.
Therefore caution is advised. While hiking the trail connecting Saména and Grotte Rolland resist exploring the structure. The Cheminée de Mante is dangerous because of its toxicity and risk of collapse.
The Cheminée de Mante stands as a testament to Marseille’s industrial ingenuity. It serves as a stark reminder. It reflects the environmental consequences of past practices. It shows the importance of responsible industrial development.