Discovering the forgotten treasures of Sierck-les-Bains: old postcards and faience

On 10 and 11 October 2026, Sierck-les-Bains invites residents and visitors on a journey back in time, with an exhibition devoted to old postcards and the town's faience. Behind this event is Pierre Bonnet, a local history enthusiast who wants to share part of this sometimes little-known heritage. On Radio Tripoint, he tells us how the exhibition came about and which treasures visitors will be able to discover.

How did the idea for this exhibition come about?

Pierre Bonnet: I had always wanted to share the postcards and old photos of Sierck-les-Bains. When talking to people around me about Sierck's very rich past — its shops, cafés, hotels, the baths and the springs — I realised that many people were interested in this history.

The exhibition therefore grew out of a wish to make these traces of the past known and to share them.

What will visitors be able to discover?

Visitors will be able to discover many old views of Sierck-les-Bains, as well as various shops that once existed. The postcards also show the traces left by the wars and floods that marked the town.

The exhibition also presents some beautiful faience pieces, including plates and cups. Among the most remarkable pieces are two magnificent, extremely rare vases from Sierck.

Why was it important to showcase this heritage?

Pierre Bonnet: I think it's important to make all our past heritage known: the quarries, the tanneries, but also the faience factories.

And this heritage is sometimes still little known. Only recently I was talking to someone from the area who didn't even know there had been faience factories in Sierck.

The exhibition is therefore also a way of reminding people that behind the streets and buildings we know today lies a particularly rich history.

Who is the exhibition for, and what would you like visitors to take away?

Pierre Bonnet: The exhibition is for the whole canton of Sierck, because back then Sierck provided work and a livelihood for many people.

Above all, I'd like visitors to discover or rediscover this history and realise how rich the local heritage is.

Bonus question: is there a piece with a special story?

As for the postcards, Pierre Bonnet says he has no particular anecdote, but his collection is the result of a great deal of research, flea markets and many kilometres travelled in search of real rarities.

As for the faience, however, his friend Jacquy tells a lovely anecdote.

A friend of his collects Longwy enamels and had two plates from Sierck in his collection. Jacquy reportedly pointed out to him, with a wink, that these two plates didn't really belong in his collection.

Shortly before Christmas, the collector ended up giving Jacquy… the two beautiful plates from Sierck.

A little story that captures the spirit of this exhibition: behind every old object there may be a story, an encounter or a memory.

A journey into the memory of Sierck-les-Bains

This exhibition therefore offers a chance to discover several facets of the history of Sierck-les-Bains: its shops, its landscapes, the traces of the events that marked the town, but also its expertise in faience-making.

An invitation to see local heritage with fresh eyes and to discover objects that — sometimes after many kilometres or years in private collections — are coming back to tell part of Sierck's story.

Exhibition of old postcards and faience from Sierck-les-Bains

• Saturday 10 October 2026: 2 pm to 6 pm
• Sunday 11 October 2026: 10 am to 6 pm
• Free entry
• Salle Espace Valette, rue Porte de Trèves, Sierck-les-Bains

Radio Tripoint invites you to join this dive into the memory and heritage of Sierck-les-Bains.