Parc de la tannerie (english version)

The « Parc de la Tannerie » along the river Interpretation path

The “Kleppelbach” over the years

The known history of this domain is unique in the fact it is structured in three different ways around the use of water.

The profession of tanner

The salting and soaking

In order to guarantee the preservation of the skins, they are sprinkled with coarse salt and piled up on the ground.  Then, the skins are washed in “soaks” which are shaken several times a day.

Plaining, breaking and fleshing

The skins then pass through lime solutions to facilitate the hair removal.  They are then spread out on an easel where they are scraped.  Finally, the tanner gets rid of the remaining flesh using a double-edged knife.

Swelling and tanning

The skins are swollen in water mixed with used tan (pounded oak bark)  .  Tanning then takes place in pits where skins and layers of tan alternate.  We cover the mass with water.  After 3 months, the pit is unloaded, the skins are cleaned, and the process is started again … 4 or 5 times.  Because to make good leather you need tan and time!

1750 – 1922 : the tanneries

The first tannery (“Lârei”) was probably built by Jean PELTZER around 1750 and was supplied with tan (pounded oak bark) from the surrounding villages.  In 1802, Guillaume JEANTY built a flour mill here, which he sold to Pierre JEANGOUT in 1816.  In 1823, the latter sold it to Martin KUBORN, who set up a tannery with 12 pits (“Lârkol”).  In 1851, the tannery passed to his son Antoine, who expanded it to 30 pits and added a sawmill and a tanning mill.

When he died in 1896, the tannery passed to his son-in-law Charles COLLING, who ran it for a further 15 years.  But new chemical tanning processes and the arrival of American leathers signalled the end of the tanneries.  The property was acquired in 1922 by his nephew, Albert KUBORN.

1941-1974 : fish farming

In 1941, Joseph BECHET bought the estate to turn it into a fish farm.  He planted various species of trees, some of which can still be seen today.

The main ponds were dug between 1949 and 1952.  When the Concolors pond was being dug, oak huts filled with tan were found.  The large Mélèzes pond was also used for canoeing (sometimes in old aircraft parts!).

Around 1960, the final improvements were made : levelling the pathways, digging the entrance pond, …  It was at this time that the tanner’s stone (1800 kg) was unearthed.

Since 1974 : the leisure park

In 1974, the commune of Martelange bought the entire estate.

Since then, development work has been undertaken to transform the property into a place where local residents can relax, while preserving the many uses to which the water is put (fish farm for the fishing federation, educational pond, habitats for biodiversity, …).

Pannel produced in collaboration with the “Cercle d’Histoire de Martelange”.  Proofreading by Marc KERGER and Bernard KUBORN, whom we thank for their assistance and good mood.  The original documents were provided by Mr Guy BECHET.

6 easy-to-see amphibians

Anurans or Urodele?

Amphibians spend the first stages of their development in water and the rest on land.  During their metamorphosis, they develop two pairs of legs and switch from gill-breathing to long-breathing.  We encounter 2 types of amphibians : those that lose their tail during metamorphosis ( anurans) and those that keep it (urodeles).

Frog and toad cycle

Fire salamander cycle

Newt cycle

The brown frog

This is the most common and widespread “brown frog” in Europe.  Its habits tend to terrestrial : it can be found in woods, meadows, parks and gardens, sometimes far from its egg-laying site.  A large brown spot on the temple distinguishes if from green frogs.

Green frogs

The term “green frog” is ambiguous and refers to several species that are difficult to separate : Lessona’s frog (local), laughing frog (exotic) and their hybrid (green frog).  Unlike red cousins, green frogs lead a predominantly aquatic life.

The common toad

The toad is not the male of the frog, but a species in its own right.  They are easily distinguishable : the toad has rough skin covered in pustules, walks slowly, does not leap and lay its eggs in form of garlands.

The alpine newt

This newt tends to live in forests and prefers cool waters.  When breeding, the male is coloured night-blue on his back and orange on his belly.

When laying her legs, the female packs them one by one into the aquatic vegetation …

The palmate newt

This is the smallest of our newts.  It can be found in all types of stagnant water.  In mating attire, the male has webbed feet and a small filament at the end of his tail.  The female is dull, with a brownish back and a pinkish throat, often without spots. 

The fire salamander

The fire salamander frequents forest environments. It breeds in springs, pools and small streams.  It can be recognized by its black skin spotted with yellow, which secretes toxins.  It does not lay eggs and gives birth directly to small larvae.

Marsh Iris

The iris thrives in shallow water.  In the past, the rhizome was used for its diuretic and vermifuge properties.  Today, it is used very rarely and only on prescription, as it can cause violent vomiting and diarrhoea.  Its rhizomes contain micro-organisms that have the power to purify water, hence its use in lagooning systems. 

The marsh iris is a helophyte : its roots are underwater but the plant is above water

Canadian elodea

This American plant was introduced in the 19th century by ships sailing down the St Lawrence and then up European rivers. It is said to have been a medicinal plant for the Iroquois. Its introduction into our waterways is causing problems because of its proliferation. In Europe, only female plants are found, which reproduce by splitting. Elodea is often used to decorate aquariums.

Elodea is a hydrophyte: it grows entirely in water.

Images of yesterday and today

The facilities at the old tannery have evolved over the centuries: flour mill, sawmill, tanning mill, tanning pits, etc.

The main buildings were burnt down in 1944 during the Ardennes Offensive. In 1950, the ruins of the last installations remained. These ruins disappeared in 1957, when the paths were laid out and the entrance pond dug.

In 1949, ponds were dug around the house, starting with the ‘Concolors’ pond upstream from the building. The cellars were converted into fish-farming laboratories. Today, the buildings have disappeared, partly replaced by the barbecue area, whose basement is still occupied by the hatchery of the Fédération Halieutique et Piscicole du sous-bassin de la Moselle asbl.

The upstream part of the valley was acquired in 1952. The owner dug 10 small triangular ponds, cascading down directly onto the stream. Initially, there were no trees on the site. Today, nature has reclaimed the site.

Panel produced in collaboration with the Cercle d'Histoire de Martelange. Proofreading by Marc KERGER and Bernard KUBORN, whom we thank for their help and good humour. Period documents provided by Mr Guy Bechet.

What was the place like in 1950/51/54?

Remember to slide this shutter to the left as you leave!

The food chain

To survive, living beings need to feed themselves. To do this, they establish food relationships with each other. The food chain is a sequence in which each living thing eats the living thing before it.

The food chain is made up of different links, each of which plays an essential role:

Producers are capable of producing their own living matter. For example, plants use solar energy and minerals to build themselves.

Consumers need to eat other living things in order to build themselves up. A food chain may have several consumer links (herbivores, predators, etc.).

Decomposers are responsible for recycling dead living things into minerals that can be re-assimilated by producers.

A species can occupy different places in a food chain. In the example opposite, did you find the one that occupies two distinct levels?

Man himself is part of different food chains... Did you recognise yourself?

Each wheel depends on the others working properly. If one species disappears, a cog is missing and the ecosystem no longer functions.

• Producers
• Decomposers
• Algae, plants
• Consumers n°1
• Consumers n°2
• Consumers n°3
• Bacteria and fungi

6 dragonflies that are easy to see

Dragonfly or Damselfly?

Dragonflies are large, robust insects with a powerful flight. At rest, they keep their wings ‘open’, spread out on either side of their body.

 In dragonflies and damselflies, colour and pattern generally vary according to sex. By rotating, the plates opposite illustrate either the male or the female.

Damselflies are smaller and thinner. Their flight is also less nervous. When they land, they keep their wings together (or half-jointed) above their body.