Bensari Workshop in Wrocław, Poland, hosted young artisans from Les Compagnons du Devoir et du Tour de France — one of France’s oldest and most respected craft organizations. As part of the Erasmus+ program, these trainees are learning traditional woodworking techniques, developing design-to-object projects, and exchanging experiences in the spirit of European craftsmanship without borders.
Tom Bensari | Bensari Workshop | Wrocław
Who are Les Compagnons du Devoir?
Les Compagnons du Devoir is a legendary French guild of artisans and craftsmen whose origins trace back to the Middle Ages. For centuries, its members have embodied excellence in technical skill, humility, and collaboration.
Their unique educational model is based on the idea of the “Tour de France” – a journey through workshops across different regions and countries. During this journey, young apprentices gain hands-on experience, broaden their understanding of materials, and develop both craft and character.
The organization offers training in dozens of trades — from woodworking, carpentry, and stonemasonry to metalwork, leathercraft, and architectural construction. Every stage of their learning combines practice, theory, and a strong community life guided by values such as patience, precision, and respect.
Working together at Bensari Workshop
During their stay in Wrocław, the students of Les Compagnons du Devoir:
- create woodworking projects from concept to finished object,
- learn traditional joinery and finishing methods,
- work in small collaborative groups,
- exchange cultural and technical perspectives on craftsmanship.
Each day in the workshop is more than just technical training — it’s a conversation about the meaning of craft in today’s world, about how different traditions can complement one another, and how the spirit of craftsmanship continues to unite people across languages and borders.
Why this collaboration matters
For Tom Bensari, founder of Bensari Workshop and master designer-maker, hosting these young French artisans is both an honor and a meaningful exchange of traditions.
The philosophy of Les Compagnons du Devoir — learning through making, travel, and mentorship — deeply resonates with Bensari Workshop’s own ethos: learning through experience, focus, and respect for materials.
This collaboration bridges generations and cultures, showing how traditional craftsmanship remains relevant in contemporary design and how shared values of excellence, precision, and curiosity can inspire a new generation of artisans.
In the coming weeks, Bensari Workshop will share updates and photographs from the traineeship — a rare opportunity to witness how the craft traditions of France and Poland meet at one workbench.
🔗 More about the organization: compagnons-du-devoir.com
Bensari Workshop is an independent woodworking and design studio in Wrocław, Poland, led by master woodworker Tom Bensari.
In this Erasmus+ collaboration, the studio hosts apprentices from Les Compagnons du Devoir, a historic French craftsmen’s guild with medieval roots.
The program focuses on traditional woodworking, finishing techniques, and design through practice, emphasizing the philosophy of learning by doing.
The partnership represents a meeting of French and Polish craft traditions, promoting cultural exchange and continuity of artisanal knowledge.
It illustrates how craft education, mentorship, and contemporary design can coexist in modern Europe while preserving heritage and inspiring future generations.
