Espace éco-chanvre et fibres végétales

The Espace Eco-chanvre at Noyal-sur-Vilaine is a Discovery and Information Centre for the promotion of economic, scientific, educational, cultural and tourist initiatives concerning the sustainable development of hemp and plant fibres. It is open to professionals, individuals, academics and students of all ages and aims to offer innovative solutions to sustainable development in an ever-changing environmental situation and to develop and highlight the hemp and plant fibre sector. This Discovery and Information Centre, which was built mainly of hemp in 2013, is a tourist attraction as part of the heritage trail «Lin & Chanvre en Bretagne» which follows the story of flax and hemp production in Brittany. The Discovery Centre (Espace Ecochanvre) recounts the history of hemp cloth, traditional methods of production and the advantages of using plant fibres in a reconstructed weaver’s workshop, a vegetable dyeing workshop and an information centre. It also provides an economic showcase for the skills and expertise of eco-friendly firms and craftsmen in the Pays de Chateaugiron region who work with hemp and other fibres. The Centre provides information and training and is the venue for permanent and temporary exhibitions, workshops, tourist and cultural events. There is also a shop selling a wide range of products made from industrial hemp. The Centre holds training courses for professionals, introductory workshops about the use of hemp and plant fibres in different fields, plus regular conferences and lectures on the various uses of hemp and plant fibres.