History of the traditional Monteux fireworks

This adventure began in the 19th century when Calixte Aulagne, carpenter and cabinetmaker, born and deceased in Monteux (1819-1906) was the pioneer in this field. He developed this activity in his native village with his two sons Bruno, Cyprien, and a worker named Jean-Baptiste Bertier. He also involved a neighbor and friend, Mr. Astier, a notary in his state, who provided him with works and treatises on pyrotechnics that could, likely bring him the desirable improvements in his art.

An unknown-cause fire in the production floor made them furious, Bruno jumped from the 1st floor narrowly escaping death, Cyprien was seriously injured but unfortunately, Jean-Baptiste was burned to death. After this tragedy, Bruno pulled out of the adventure. From now on, Cyprien is alone and determined, gave the company a new lease of life. He established an almost total monopoly over the South-East, from Geneva to Lyon and from Perpignan to Nice: his representatives in the big cities were chosen from among the local notables, so that all the fireworks from Avignon, Nice, Lyon, Lyon, Annecy, to Monaco up to Vienna in Austria, come from his own factory. 

He developed the anti-hail rocket patented in 1905 . In 1911, Cyprien sold the family factory to Mr. Breynat . The thriving industry was attracting new investors. In this new El Dorado, several executives and employees set up their own businesses here and elsewhere.

A prosperous period is coming to Monteux. 5 pyrotechnic factories were set up and many men successively contributed to their progress. These men were:

- Mathieu *Berthier (*son of Jean-Baptiste Bertier, he added an h to his name) and Triolet, associates at the beginning, then separated.

- Triolet disappeared; the dismantled Berthier factory was next sold.

- Provençal created a small factory in Monteux, he then sold it to Mr. Alphonse Breynat.

- Jules Fabre arrived in Monteux in the 1900s with his two sons Justin and Gilbert. Together, they developed the factory. From this family collaboration, only, Gilbert Fabre will remain and will have the privilege of Setting off fireworks for the Shah of Iran.

- Concerning Tronc and Martin, their operation ceased few years after its creation.

- Jean set up a small establishment in Saint Didier. He handed it to Jacques Ulpat who transported the factory to Monteux to pass to Jacquin, it was the Bellerive factory.

In 1918, Alexis Villié bought back the factory from Jacquin and joined forces with Mr. Alphonse Breynat, until 1921, when both got together with Maison Aubin and from their collaboration were born the 'Establishments *Ruggieri'.

* Ruggieri, was the name of five Italian brothers experts on fireworks  who left Bologna to try their luck in Paris in 1730.

On May 12, 1921, the statutes of the Etablissements Ruggieri company were filed. From then on, it was the only establishment in Monteux for several decades. In fact, in the mid-20th century, it became the largest employer in the city, and its name, Ruggieri, set the standard with pyrotechnics

Together, through their work, the Montilians contributed to the development of the city, to its influence and have forever linked Monteux to the history of pyrotechnics, whose memory is reactivated each year on the 4th weekend of August.

Under a shower of sparks, Monteux ignites, lights up, and magic takes over. Nothing is left to chance! The Monteux Fire is one of our flagship events, surrounded by various activities, shows, votive celebrations, and concerts.

The scenario is imagined by Christian GROS the Mayor of Monteux, the staging carried out by the artistic director, the scenography by the technicians and the tailor-made music, arousing the emotion of the spectator.