Limestone banks

In geological terms, ever since we passed the little depressions in the rock, we have been following the first
massive limestone beds. These are clearly visible not only to the naked eye (depressions, rocks), but also on the relief map. These depressions are in fact former small-scale limestone workings. In the past, the land belonging to the town was dotted with quarries of different sizes, all now disused. The limestone extracted was used for building stones, pavements and aggregates, and also as raw material for the lime kilns, one magnificent example of which can still be seen on the main road (Rue des Ardennes) near the lower entrance to the Parc du Castel. Lime kilns were used to calcinate limestone (CaCO3) into quicklime (CaO) at temperatures of 600-800ºC.