Tucked away in the delightful Provençal town of Nyons, renowned for its olives and olive oil production, we found one of France’s most unique and enduring family businesses—La Scourtinerie. If, like us, you love discovering authentic, off-the-beaten-path experiences with a whole heap of fascinating history and craftsmanship, then this little workshop deserves a spot on your Southern France itinerary.
La Scourtinerie is the last remaining scourtin factory in France. ‘What‘s a scourtin‘, do I hear you say? Read on, and we’ll tell you why, if you’re in Nyons, in the Drôme Provençale region of southern France, this should be on your must-visit list.
The workshop, museum, and shop are housed in a wonderful old building on the outskirts of town. The family still lives here. It really is like stepping back into a bygone era.
What is a scourtin?
So what is a scourtin? It is a woven mat made of woven coconut fibre string. The string may be natural colored or dyed. These simple, natural and often colourful products have been produced in the same age-old way for the last 140 years.
The business was founded in 1882 by Ferdinand Fert. We were very lucky to be shown around by Sophie, his great-great-granddaughter, and now the person charged, together with her mother Frédérique Fert, for preserving this valuable piece of industrial heritage and partisanship.
Sophie has such a passion for the family business. We loved hearing her life story of world travels and her return to Nyons from Australia, as COVID-19 locked the globe down. This young Globetrotter returned to discover that there was nowhere else she wanted to be than home, helping to run the family business.
A short visit to La Scoutinerie, and we could see why!
Why It’s Worth the Stop
Watch Craftsmanship in Action
A visit to La Scourtinerie workshop presents a rare opportunity to witness the artistry behind these exquisite mats. As we watch Sophie and her mother in the workshop, it feels like very little has changed over the years.
Shop for Unique Souvenirs
Forget mass-produced keepsakes. The boutique offers one-of-a-kind pieces in a rainbow of Provençal colours. Each scourtin is handcrafted, durable, and a meaningful reminder of your trip. It’s ideal for gifting or decorating your home with a story.
A Slice of Living History
This isn’t a staged tourist stop—La Scourtinerie is a working atelier. It’s a testament to family heritage, French artisanal pride, and the beauty of keeping tradition alive in a modern world.
It’s in Beautiful Nyons!
Nyons is known for its mild climate, historic centre, and award-winning olive oil. Combine your visit to La Scourtinerie with a stroll through the local market held each Thursday, a tasting at one of the many olive producers, lunch at nearby Le Bistrotteur, and a glass of local wine in the sun. Bliss.
La Scourtinerie Museum
It’s best to start by diving into the museum, where many of your questions will be answered and the history of the Company lovingly explained. Briefly, olive oil and wine must be filtered when pressed; this has traditionally been done using handwoven alpha grass baskets.
However, Ferdinand Fert saw woven coconut fibre being used in ropes and fenders on the trading ships coming into the port of Marseilles from India and Sri Lanka. He was impressed with its strength and resilience and inspired to make coconut fibre filters.
The history of Scourtins
At the same time, he developed, built and patented an automated weaving machine that enabled workers to produce five scourtins a day rather than the one woven by hand. These were the foundations for a flourishing business that at its peak employed 35 people and still thrives as the only scourtin producer in France.
Markets change, and scourtins are no longer used to filter olive oil. However, plastic ones are still made and used in the wine industry, and La Scourtinerie now focuses on producing scourtins for place mats, floor mats and wall hangings. These are still made of the same coconut fibre, carefully hand-woven and sourced from Kerala in Southern India.
A sister factory – Les Ombrières de Provence, 10 kilometres away from Nyons, is run by Sophie’s uncle, Arnaud, a fourth-generation Fert family member. They produce coconut fibre sailcloths, ideal for providing much-needed shade during the hot summers of southern France.
La Scourtinerie Workshop
After visiting the museum, head upstairs to the l’Atelier – the workshop – which, apart from some Health and Safety signs, appears to have changed little over the decades.
Here, you may well come across Sophie’s mother, Frédérique, looping the woven fibre onto the weaving machines, removing the completed sections, or stretching the scourtins to the desired shape. The team here literally do everything.
The oldest weaving machine is 125 years old and still in use, while the most modern is around 15 years old and still resembles its forebears. So little has changed! Sophie’s partner does most of the machine maintenance and engineering work. It is truly a family affair.
La Scourtinerie Boutique
Move on to the well-established, bright, and exciting factory shop, where all versions of the Scourtins can be purchased. Additionally, through the family’s connections with Kerala, you can also buy a wide range of woven goods imported from India, made by family and friends of La Scourtinerie’s fibre supplier.
It is clear that Sophie’s contacts with her Indian fibre supplier run far deeper than a standard supplier/customer relationship; this is true friendship. Sophie visits Kerala every year to review the fibre and weaving quality, ensuring that the bond between the two companies is maintained and continues to strengthen.
Stock up at the shop for fantastic baskets, hammocks, hats, and woven figures—the choice is immense.
Visiting La Scourtinerie
So, when in the Le Baronnies, a visit to La Scourtinerie is an absolute must. Plan to spend up to 90 minutes at the location. La Scourtinerie is well signposted throughout the town, and conveniently, parking is available on site.
The Museum and Shop are open all year, six days a week (excluding Sundays and public holidays). From 09:00 to 12:30, 14:00 to 18:00, and 18:30 (April-September). You can find all the visiting details here.
Guided tours of the workshop are available Monday to Friday, by appointment between 2:30 PM and 5:00 PM.
La Scourtinerie details
Address: 36 rue de La Maladrerie, 26110 Nyons, France
Website: www.scourtinerie.com
Final thoughts
La Scoutinerie is more than a museum and a shop – it’s a testament to a hard-working family, a story woven in fibre. If you value authenticity, artistry, and supporting local traditions, this is one of those rare hidden gems that makes you feel like you’ve uncovered something truly special. Sophie and her family’s passion for La Scourtinerie is infectious. Thank you for a brilliant visit, we love your work!
Disclosure: Our visit was part of a tour arranged by Baronnies Tourisme to explore their part of the Drome Provençale region in southern France. All opinions are my own. Thank you so much for this lovely invitation.
Follow us on Social Media: Find more photos of my travels and stories on Instagram @littlewanderingwren
More on Drome Provençale: Coming soon!
For more Little Wandering Wren’s French travels, see:
Road tripping through Tarn and Garonne.
Wandering Lyon 48 Hours with a Lyon City Pass.
Discovering Magnificent Montpellier, Avignon.
