... this weekend, the shores of Paimpont Lake are home to the bi-annual 'Fête de Fer' - the 'Iron Fair' which celebrates Paimpont's industrial past as an important iron mining and forging centre. As well as exhibitions on this aspect of Paimpont's history, there are some two-dozen demonstrations on the whole process from smelting to producing fine wrought iron.
There were a number of lady 'Forgeronnes' present but I was quite taken by this rather glamorous lady blacksmith who had set up her forge a bit apart from the crowd and appeared to be working twice as hard as her male counterparts. She's demonstrating one of the principal uses for Paimpont iron - handmade wrought iron nails; you can see some examples on the tree-stump on which her anvil is placed.
