Concerning Rubelles, what stories do these stones whisper? Rubelles is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department. It is located in the Île-de-France region. Rubelles sits just 3 kilometers northeast of Melun.
Let’s take a stroll through Rubelles. The origin of Rubelles seems to go back to Roman times. At that time it was a place of settlement.
In the Middle Ages a large part of the region was planted with vines. They called it Rubella-Vinea. This translates to vine with reddish wood. Some say that this is the origin of the name Rubelles. Another theory says that the name Rubelles may come from “ru bel”. This means a stream dedicated to Bel, the sun god of the megalithic period.
The oldest known mention of Rubelles is “Rubella” from 1206. It is said this name was mentioned in a charter attributed to King Robert around the year 1000.
Now let us discuss the blazon of Rubelles. It features a faience plate from Rubelles. The plate is green and decorated with a bunch of grapes. There are also two bunches of purple grapes. The top of the blazon is blue with three gold grenades.
Rubelles was once home to a faience factory. It was established around 1836 by Baron Alexis du Tremblay. He partnered with Baron de Bourgoing. De Bourgoing invented the process of lithophanic faience. The vivid colors and fine designs made Rubelles faience sought after by collectors.
Émile Trélat directed the factory around 1840. The faience factory closed in 1858. Since September 21 2019 Rubelles has had a dedicated place to showcase its faience. It is called the Maison de la Faïence.
The church in Rubelles is dedicated to Saint Nicolas. It seems to date back to the 13th or 14th century. It has a single nave. The nave is barrel-vaulted with four bays. There are three funerary epitaphs of the Drouart, Chassepot and du Tremblay families. These families were former lords of the area. The stained glass windows depict Saint Nicolas and Saint Eloi. The bell tower was built in the first half of the 19th century.
The Château de Rubelles is located in a picturesque setting. It was enlarged and remodeled in the 19th century. The park has retained its original appearance.
The Baron de Bourgoing conceived the technique of Émail Ombrant. However the factory’s production only lasted about twenty years. That did not allow it to fully develop.
Rubelles is a village located north of Melun. The Ru du Jard crosses it. In the Middle Ages a large part of the region was planted with vines called “Rubella-Vinea”. The leaf and fruit of the vine were among the most frequently used motifs in Rubelles faience production.
In the 19th century the village was the site of a faience factory. Made from 1838 to 1858 the faience is highly sought after by collectors today. The vivid colors and fine designs make it special. Rubellois is the name for the inhabitants of Rubelles.
So, next time you admire a piece of Rubelles faience remember the rich history and artistry that went into creating it. The Maison de la Faïence awaits your visit.