History
INTIMATELY LINKED TO THE FRENCH ARISTOCRACY
Cheminee is the modern French term for a fireplace, although it has also been defined as a chimney or a fireplace surround in past references.
Fireplaces have evolved over many centuries, and one of the most significant changes was made during the construction of the Chateau de Chambord for the French King Francis I. It was now the Renaissance period in France, and Francis, a passionate patron of the arts, encouraged many Italian artists, including the inventor, sculptor and painter Leonardo Da Vinci, to visit during the early stages of the Chateau’s construction. The main building material was “Pierre de Chazelles” (stone of Chazelles), a fine quality golden stone, similar to high-density limestone mined in Chazelles.
Large stone-carved fireplaces are featured in this chateau, unlike any fireplaces present at this time. The Chazelles stone and artisans were quickly sought after across France, working in other provinces on many other fine chateaux. It is worth noting at this point that some of the artisans who laboured on the Chateau were the ancestors of the present stone carvers of the fireplace surrounds employed by Chazelles today.
The village of Chazelles is located in Charente, in the French region Poitou-Charentes, part of the Angouleme district. It is only 20 km from another Chateau d’Angouleme, inherited by Francis I.
Francis was born near Cognac in 1494 and was Count of Angouleme. He decided to restore the Chateau d’Angouleme using the Chazelles stone. Major building was undertaken over many years, including extensions featuring Renaissance influences. Other French kings who were connected previously to the Chateau were Henri d’ Angouleme (Henri II) and Charles IX, the Duc d’Angouleme.
During the reigns of French kings Louis XIV, XV, and XVI, from the middle 1600s to the late 1700s, fireplace design continued to evolve. Elaborate carved marble and stone fireplace surrounds and complementary mantle pieces were added and adorned with large mirrors. Others defined the chimneys with carvings from floor to ceiling.
CHAZELLES CHEMINEE – THE BEGINNING
Chazelles Cheminee was named after Chazelles, the place where the company was established in the 1970s. The family business began with nine staff members, and now It employs 450 people working in its 20,000-square-metre production plant covering 7 hectares of land.
Today, some of Chazelles’ high-energy and environmental-performance fireboxes are enhanced with carved stone fireplace surrounds derived from the same local Charente stone and carefully carved by Chazelle’s highly skilled tradesmen. They embrace this skill just as their early ancestors did, who produced such high-quality work on and in the Chateau d’Angouleme and many others. Their expertise is admired by many who visit the Chateau today.
Chazelles is ranked as the number one French manufacturer of wood-burning fireboxes. The factory utilises the latest technically advanced equipment. The quality of materials and Chazelles processes ensure that every fireplace manufactured is of the highest standard, providing years of use and enjoyment for every customer worldwide. Their range of sizes with 1 to 3 doors accommodate the heating of large and small rooms and can be built in the centre or side wall position. Chazelles is the world’s first and number one slow combustion / open fireplace with a unique retractable glass door that allows you to enjoy a real open fire along with the efficiency and safety of slow combustion heating when you slide the door securely down.
