Port miniature history
The Port miniature of Saint Savinien -sur-Charente is the brainchild of a man with a passion for boats : Jean-Louis Foucaud.
He ‘s worked as a shipwright in 1985, at the” ateliers de l’enfer”in Douarnenez, Jean-Louis had only one thing in mind: building scale models of fishing and trade vessels at children scale, to recreate a real miniature port.
The first miniature boat, built in 1986, is a steam tug, the Saint Savinien. It has been followed by three other smaller boats, Mississippi steamboats replicas: Memphis, America and Eagle. After the first tests with the family on the Charenton, the adventure could begin in July 14th, with the first four ships. The fleet has grown from year to year, two new vessels were built each year. 17 ships have been built in total.Then, over the seasons, these small boats have been modified, processed, refined by adding details, additional decorations, small boats … to make them collector’s boats, for children pleasure (as well as for grown-ups!)
The Grenouillette island where these little boats sail, has also benefited from this passionate talent. Setttings have been installed all around the lake to create a unique atmosphere about miniature port. The old bridges crossing the channel gave way to a Chinese bridge, a Japanese footbridge and a suspension bridge, replica of the Golden Gate in San Francisco.
The adventure still continues with the family.
