La Clusaz has two renovated community bread ovens.
In the past, each hamlet of La Clusaz had its own communal bread oven. This name comes from the right of "ban" exercised by the lords over the villagers for the use of ovens, mills, wine presses, and so on. Thus, during the feudal era, this "banality" tax had to be paid for the public use of these facilities.
In our valley, the owners were the nobles of Talloires, whose abbey, located on the shores of Lake Annecy, included the village of "Cluse Lieu Dieu" within its vast seigneury until the end of the 18th century.
After this date, the inhabitants of the area organized themselves into a society, where only members had the right to use the oven.
Every two weeks, a rotation was established for heating the oven and then baking the bread. All these ovens experienced their last days of glory during the war years when bread remained a scarce commodity. Then comes abandonment and oblivion; some fall into ruin and disappear.
In our valley, the owners were the nobles of Talloires, whose abbey, located on the shores of Lake Annecy, included the village of "Cluse Lieu Dieu" within its vast seigneury until the end of the 18th century.
After this date, the inhabitants of the area organized themselves into a society, where only members had the right to use the oven.
Every two weeks, a rotation was established for heating the oven and then baking the bread. All these ovens experienced their last days of glory during the war years when bread remained a scarce commodity. Then comes abandonment and oblivion; some fall into ruin and disappear.