Did you know? Europe's largest gypsum plant is located in the Paris region and is open to the public.

Placoplâtre is based in Vaujours, in the French department of Seine-Saint-Denis. Designated as the world's largest gypsum manufacturing site, it is an integral part of the Île-de-France region's industrial heritage.

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And with good reason: this plant produces over 40% of France's plaster output, i.e. 1 million tonnes of this material and 62 million m² of plasterboard per year! In fact, the plant has been based in Vaujours since the 1920s, as the area is home to the large gypsum quarries used to make plaster. To highlight the region's industrial heritage, the Seine-Saint-Denis tourist office is offering tours of the factory with Explore Paris, to take a behind-the-scenes look at the manufacture of this indispensable building material.

Upcoming dates for visits to the Placoplâtre plant :

• Thursday, January 23, 10 a.m.
• Thursday, March 6, 10am
• Thursday, May 15, 10am
• Thursday, June 12, 10am
• Thursday, July 10, 10am

The tour takes place on foot, on the factory site: remember to bring comfortable clothes and shoes, as there are almost 2 km to walk around! The tour costs €6 per person, and is recommended for adults and older teenagers (aged 16 and over).