The story goes that Jean Montgolfier was taken prisoner by the Turks during the Crusades and was compelled to work in a paper mill in Damascus.

There he learned how to produce paper, and he brought the knowledge back to Europe when he regained his freedom.

Born in the region of Beaujolais, the Vidalon family were friends with Jean Montgolfier, who was also a papermaker in the Réveillon mill.

In 1693, Raymond and Michel Montgolfier married the daughters of Antoine Chelles, the owner of the paper mills.

He developed the Bleu de Prusse colour and a new device to raise water ... With his brother Etienne Montgolfier, he created the first hot air balloon, the montgolfière.

In 1783, [Louis XVI ennobled Pierre Montgolfier and his family, both on account of the aerostatic invention and on that of the strides that they have spurred in the papermaking industry.

He then asked Canson in Annonay to develop and produce "Les Papiers de Montval", that are still sold today.

In 1947, Canson created the famous French « pochette », so teachers no longer have to transport heavy stacks of pads.

Canson also produces specialty sheets and framing board for chalk pastel use under the brand-name Mi-Teintes.

Canson has also sponsored Le Papier à l'œuvre, an exhibition on interaction between paper and artists, which took place from June to September 2011 in the Louvre museum.

Some works of great artists were done on Canson paper: Nu bleu IV from Henri Matisse and Combustion, mèche noire et traces de brûlures sur papier Canson II from Christian Jaccard, as well as a contemporary work from Dominique de Beir, Le Blanc, c'est la nuit.