“We have managed to leave our mark on Béziers”: focus on the expertise of Vincent and Charlotte Paubel who worked on the ironwork of the market halls

Charlotte and Vincent made the B of Béziers which was installed just below the two arrows of the main entrances.

Charlotte and Vincent made the B of Béziers which was installed just below the two arrows of the main entrances.

The Béziers ironworker Vincent Paubel and his wife Charlotte restored the moldings and arrows located at the main entrances of the Béziers market halls. The monumental B (for Béziers), placed just below the arrows was also made by the young couple who will also redo the coats of arms that will adorn the exterior pillars located on the facade of the building.

It is almost noon in front of one of the main entrances to the Béziers market halls. Vincent and Charlotte Paubel had not been back to the covered market since its inauguration in November, which had been for them, “a very moving moment,” breathes Vincent. Seeing these halls come back to life, when we participated in the construction, when we were trusted, it did something to us.” To explain, the young ironworker opens the photo gallery on his mobile phone. He scrolls through the images and we understand his fervor better: “I'll show you,” he enthuses. He details the restoration work he carried out with his wife and their employee Assan Fofana. A nine-month labor during which they devoted themselves entirely to what was “their baby”, a colossal project to which they devoted themselves with passion and without counting their time.

“This project is the most important that we have completed”

Today, it is with a justifiable pride that they can look up at their achievements: the restoration of the spires located above the main doors, that of the various moldings, the identical construction of the monumental B (for Béziers) which stood just below the spires during the construction of the covered market in the 19th century… For weeks, on a daily basis, the couple lived and thought about the Béziers market halls. Because, in life as in their workshop (Métallerie Vincent Paubel), Vincent and Charlotte Paubel are inseparable.

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The former companion of duty, born in Jura, settled in Biterre in 2009, in the industrial zone of Capiscol:“We do everything, from gates to railings… But what we prefer is the renovation of heritage, the fact of giving new life to old works on which we sometimes find the signature of those who made them, explains the ironworker who grew up in a family of carpenters. This project at Les Halles is the most important that we have carried out. Yes, we are proud because we have managed to leave our mark in Béziers.”

“It's a team effort”

With a degree in accounting, Charlotte very quickly followed her husband, ensuring the management of the company. Today, it is by drawing that she supports him. Without her, the restoration of the market halls would not have been possible: “It's a team effort,assures Charlotte who has trained in drawing. Our strength is that we are both. I redrew the B from drawings found in the city archives and old postcards. The coats of arms that will be on the posts and that we will be making in the coming weeks were reproduced from sketches by the first architects of the market halls and also from postcards that we found. For the B, which is made of fiber-reinforced concrete, it was cast in a foundry in the north of France to whom we sent the prototypes at scale 1 (actual size, Editor's note).”

The dream of being listed with the Bâtiments de France

The couple also built the overhangs above the secondary openings of the building. They had been removed years ago. Before starting to redo everything, Vincent, Charlotte and their worker first had to dismantle everything for weeks, often at night so as not to be disturbed by the world and traffic. With always for the couple, the stress of time management: “We had to meet the deadlines, assures Vincent. But overall, everything went well. For a first experience of this type, we were very well supported, whether by the town hall, the architects or the other trades. This work was creative and we really hope that it will open up other projects for us in the restoration of heritage.”

With the dream of one day being referenced by the Bâtiments de France. A consecration that would be deserved if we stick to the work that the couple carried out during the construction of the halls. Achievements that reveal a rare know-how where the passion for ironwork is mixed with creativity.

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