In the Middle Ages, Ville-Dieu was located in the heart of Normandy, a few leagues from Mont-Saint-Michel. It welcomed numerous pilgrims and prospered under the protection of the Knight Hospitalers. The town quickly specialized in copperware, and more particularly the making of buckwheat pans, which constituted the main food of the time. A brotherhood settled there, and apprentices flocked from all over the kingdom. The city started echoing with their blows to the point that the inhabitants became known as sourdins (deaf). Ville-Dieu later became Villedieu-les-Poêles.