Seral - Médaille souvenirSeral - Médaille souvenir|
Laseral 2023 2ot LourdesLaseral 2023 2ot Lourdes|
Laseral 2023 5ot LourdesLaseral 2023 5ot Lourdes|
Seral DiplomeSeral Diplome|
Made in Pyrénées
ONCE UPON A TIME...
A historic company
The company’s name is “SERAL”, “Société d’Editions Religieuses et d’Articles de Lourdes” or Lourdes Company of Religious Publications and Articles. It has been based in Lourdes since it was set up in 1946 and has never moved! It was founded and for a long time managed by locals. They are the ones working here every day, sometimes for generations in the same family.
The story began as an effort to deal with the flow of pilgrims arriving at the Sanctuary after the Apparitions to the young Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. They would often ask to take home a souvenir from the Marian site, so the staff at SERAL 1946 gradually began to make medals of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Seral - Médaille souvenirLaseral 2023 2ot LourdesLaseral 2023 5ot LourdesUnmatched
skillsBrass, aluminium, gold, silver, precious or more humble metals… many different metals pass through the expert hands and the machines in the workshop. Real skills have also developed with vitreous enamel, which is coloured blue to symbolise the Virgin Mary as she appeared in Lourdes. This “grand feu” or vitreous enamel is made from metal oxide powder which can resist high temperatures of over 1000°C (hence the name “grand feu” or “great fire”). Here the work of the enameller is a true art. The result is the specific style of SERAL 1946 medals. This is also why since 2020 the company has been listed as a “Living Heritage Company” in recognition of all the firm’s achievements.
Seral DiplomeOver time, the small company developed and created new objects: medals with an insert containing Lourdes water, more colourful medals using other enameling techniques and the development of epoxy resins… SERAL also owns the well-known Malespine® brand of pastilles made with Lourdes water and sold in small cobalt-blue tins. The pastilles are made in one of the French capitals of this type of sweet: in Vichy! Lourdes water is shipped there to make the pastilles and then SERAL 1946 packages them. The sweets were given papal benediction from the end of the 19th century.
The company almost went out of business after an accidental fire on 29 February 2012, but has since revived. 75% of the factory burned down and had to be completely demolished and rebuilt. The event made a big impact on the staff but also on the inhabitants of Lourdes, who were reminded of the flagship of Lourdes industry, which had almost been forgotten.
The Covid period also made its mark, but the team is now more closely knit than ever and is fully committed to the company. Today, 21 people work at SERAL 1946.
Pastille Malespine 2Pastilles Malespine|
Visit the workshop
Not to be missed
