AN ECO-INDUSTRY AS OLD AS THE HILLS

We were on a nature walk and came upon this square basin laid in stone, like one of many that can still be found in Brittany. It was in such basins of stagnant water that flax plants were macerated in a natural, bacterial retting process to breakdown and separate their fibers for the production of linen, a rich and centuries-long industry in the Côtes d'Armor. Photo taken in the Domaine de la Roche Jagu.

Vocabulary
un bassin de rouissage:  a retting basin
le lin :  flax 
une toile de lin:  linen

©2019 P. B. Lecron