Saint-Louis-lès-Bitche

Saint-Louis-lès-Bitche is a small commune in the northern part of the Moselle Department in the French region of Lorraine. Situated in the Bitscher Land, amidst the Northern Vosges Regional Natural Park, it is mostly known for its crystal and glass making expertise seen at the manufactory of the Cristallerie Saint-Louis. With its industrial buildings, its workman%u2019s houses and a parish church overlooking the valley, Saint-Louis-lès-Bitche is also of remarkable interest from an architectural viewpoint. In the 19th century, the construction of the factory and the administrative buildings, overlapping and interlacing one with another, followed the regional architectural style rather than the typical industrial construction style. Tile roofs, for example are characteristic of the local architecture, as is the use of building materials available in the surrounding area, such as the special quarry and sandstone.