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.[2] Its 5,732 inhabitants are called Machecoulais. It was the site of First Massacre of Machecoul, the opening of the War in the Vendée in 1793.

Machecoul
The town hall in Machecoul
Coat of arms
Location of Machecoul
Machecoul
Machecoul
Coordinates: 46°59′38″N 1°49′18″W
CountryFrance
RegionPays de la Loire
DepartmentLoire-Atlantique
ArrondissementNantes
CantonMachecoul
CommuneMachecoul-Saint-Même
Area
1
66.62 km2 (25.72 sq mi)
Population
 (2017)[1]
6,268
  Density94/km2 (240/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal code
44270
Elevation0–36 m (0–118 ft)
(avg. 5 m or 16 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography

The commune of Machecoul is surrounded by the following communes:

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±%
20065,732    
20075,771+0.7%
20085,811+0.7%
20095,872+1.0%
20105,914+0.7%
20115,950+0.6%
20126,013+1.1%
20136,076+1.0%

Sights

  • Gallo-Roman Wood Lighthouse ("Phare à Bois").
  • 8th-century Merovingian sarcophagi.
  • Many old mills.
  • 11th-century Notre-Dame-de-la-Chaume abbey.
  • Former 13th-century Romanesque church.
  • La Trinité church (1881).
  • 11th-century Cahouët Bridge ("Pont de Cahouët"), wrongly called the "Roman Bridge" ("Pont Romain") – it does not date from Roman times. Small bridge over the river Falleron.
  • Castle of Machecoul, also known as "Castle of Gilles de Rais" ("Château de Gilles de Rais") or "Bluebeard's castle" ("Château de Barbe-Bleue"): 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 (1404–1440). Nowadays, on summer evenings, one can partake of a son et lumière show telling his story.
  • The "Auditoire" (18th-century). A former court's main hall (central part), which was built in 1755.
  • The Lime Kiln ("Four à Chaux") (1857). Located on Saint-Michel Island, rich in limestone. Restored in 2001.
  • Les Halles (1885).
  • The Hippodrome des Chaumes (1885).
  • The former Segin Distillery (1886).

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:

People

Machecoul was the birthplace of:

See also

References



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