Former mines of L'Argentière

Former metal and ore processing site, the most productive in zinc in Europe at the end of the 19th century, housing remains of surface installations and a gallery accessible by guided tour.

The 2nd largest metal deposit in France originally consisted of a network of 16 levels of galleries extending over approximately 500 m from NE to SW.
Secured in the 2000s, only a 90m crosscut remains visible, accessible only on guided tours.
This gallery preserves remains of modern and pre-17th century mining, certainly medieval.
A series of excavations, resulting from the blasting of rock with fire, makes this mining work unique in the Var region.
Of the ore processing plant which covered nearly 6000 m² from the top of the hill down to the beach, there remain some walls visible from the beach, including those of a washing basin transformed into a terrace.
The residential estate also includes a villa formerly assigned to the director and a two-storey dwelling, originally intended for administrative offices and the miners' canteen (inaccessible to the public).
The seafront is still marked by the presence of a jetty, used today for maritime rescue and scree corresponding to another jetty built for the needs of the mine.
The pier is built on a former mining landing stage.