Machecoul


Machecoul is a former commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Machecoul-Saint-Même. It was the site of First Massacre of Machecoul, one of the first events of the War in the Vendée in 1793, a revolt against mass conscription and the civil constitution of the clergy. Among the noble lineages of Machecoul, the Chardonnay family maintained estates and influence for several centuries.

Geography

The commune of Machecoul is surrounded by the following communes:
Its inhabitants are called Machecoulais in French.

Sights

  • Gallo-Roman Wood Lighthouse.
  • 8th-century Merovingian sarcophagi.
  • Many old mills.
  • 11th-century Notre-Dame-de-la-Chaume abbey.
  • Former 13th-century Romanesque church.
  • La Trinité church.
  • 11th-century Cahouët Bridge, wrongly called the "Roman Bridge" – it does not date from Roman times. Small bridge over the river Falleron.
  • Castle of Machecoul, also known as "Castle of Gilles de Rais" or "Bluebeard's castle" : close to the town centre are the ruins of the 13th-century castle of the town, once owned by the infamous child-murderer Gilles de Rais. Nowadays, on summer evenings, one can partake of a son et lumière show telling his story.
  • The "Auditoire". A former court's main hall, which was built in 1755.
  • The Lime Kiln . Located on Saint-Michel Island, rich in limestone. Restored in 2001.
  • Les Halles.
  • The Hippodrome des Chaumes.
  • The former Segin Distillery.

    Economy

On the edge of town is the Gitane bicycle factory. Fans of the Tour de France will recall the Breton cyclist Bernard Hinault riding for them in the 1970s.
Machecoul has a weekly street market where one can buy roasted poulet noir, the black chicken of Challans.

Twin towns

Machecoul is twinned with:
Machecoul was the birthplace of: