Like any good corporate citizen (that wants to promote and sell its products in every possible channel) Le Creuset has both a factory store and offers factory tours. The maker of cast-iron cookware, stoneware, and more recently, enameled-steel cooking products, silicone spatulas and baking pans, and oven mitts celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2005.

Fresnoy-le-Grand is located in the d&eacut;partement of Aisne in the Picardie region in northern France, very close the Belgian border. The factory store is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 to 12:30 and again from 2:00 to 6:30. Guided tours of the factory are available through the tourism office in nearby Saint Quentin. Its phone number is 03.23.67.05.00 and its fax number is 03.23.67.78.71.

Related Article: Where Can I Find Le Creuset Online?