For over a century, the small commune of Chamalières, near Clermont-Ferrand in central France, has been the home of the Bank of France's main printing press. Established in 1918, the facility produces 2.5 billion banknotes each year — half of which are euros used across the Eurozone, and the other half foreign currencies, mainly the CFA franc used in many African nations. Now, the site is undergoing its most significant transformation since its founding, with plans to move the printing operations to a nearby site in Vic-le-Comte, where the paper for the banknotes is already manufactured. The relocation, originally set for 2022, will now be completed between 2026 and 2027, delayed by four years and costing 250 million euros. The number of employees is expected to drop from 700 to around 490 in the long term, though no layoffs are planned. The historic brick building in Chamalières, designed by architect Raoul Gignoux more than a century ago, will be preserved and repurposed, while the industrial facilities behind it may be demolished. The decision to establish the printing press in Chamalières was strategic. After World War I, the French government sought to protect its currency production from border threats. The Puy-de-Dôme region was chosen, in part due to the influence of Étienne Clémentel, a local politician and minister in the postwar government. The Bank of France acquired the land and commissioned Raoul Gignoux to design the buildings. The architecture was intentionally industrial, using brick and white stone, more akin to factories in northern France or England than the traditional architecture of Auvergne. The site was originally paired with another facility in Vic-le-Comte, about 20 kilometers away, where the special cotton and linen-based paper used for banknotes is produced. Together, the Chamalières and Vic-le-Comte sites form a major hub of French currency production, employing 700 people and producing 2.5 billion banknotes annually. The Bank of France calls it "the largest and most modern public production unit of banknotes in Europe." While half of the output is euros, the other half consists of CFA francs, the currency used by many countries in Central and West Africa. This means that France has been printing the money used by millions of African citizens from a quiet provincial city in Auvergne — a legacy of post-colonial economic ties that continues to this day. In September 2022, the site faced a serious incident that highlighted the effectiveness of its security measures. A "violent" fire broke out in a workshop where the security patterns on banknotes are engraved — a critical and sensitive part of the production process. The fire brought in 70 firefighters and 24 vehicles, but it was quickly controlled. The Bank of France confirmed that all banknotes and paper stocks remained intact and secure, and production continued without interruption. The event underscored the high level of preparedness and security in place at one of France's most vital economic facilities.