As I mentioned before, Roubaix made it's money from the wool trade. There's a great museum in the old industrial quarter where you can learn all about it - from the development of different types of loom, to the horrific conditions of the workers. My friend Melissa and I were the only two visitors and had a personal guided tour. How DO these French tourist destinations stay open? Merci l'état Français......yes, well....
I've seen looms in operation before in Nottinghamshire but it was still awe-inspiring to learn about the huge leaps in technology that fed the industrial revolution. It's not pretty - but it's gritty realism - and that's sometimes what life's about.
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