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Melle is an ancient town which has traditional French architecture, some dating back before the 17th century. The silver mine in Melle is claimed to be the oldest silver mine in Europe still open to the public. The mine itself is some 20 km (12 mi) long, and visitors can explore 350 m of it, with guided tours each day.
- The Churches of Melle
- Melle Town Centre
- Attractions Nearby
The church of Saint-Hilaire
The Church of Saint-Hilare is the most important of the three churches in Melle, and is included by UNESCO as a world heritage site because of its historical importance to pilgrims. This church was built in the late 11th century and 12th century, and is a few hundred metres west of the town centre. The church of Saint-Hilaire is especially interesting because of the the large amount of ornamentation and carvings in the facade and the exterior, for example the sculpture of the horse and rider...
The church of Saint-Savinien
The Church of Saint-Savinen is the oldest of the three churches in Melle, and was built on top of the fortifications of the medieval town. The church became a prison in the 19th century and traces of their graffiti can be seen in the church. There is a great deal less original stonework to be seen here than in the Church of Saint-Hilaire, although the doorways are interesting to see. The church is best seen during the art exhibitions that are often held here during the summer.
The church of Saint-Pierre
The Church of Saint-Pierre was also built in the 12th century and is a few hundred metres north of Melle town centre. Although it is smaller than the church of Saint-Hilare it has several interesting characteristics, such as a chevet that is particularly decorative and some carved capital stones inside the church. Art exhibitions are also organised in this church during the summer.
As well as this 'triade romane' of churches, other sites to visit in Melle include the old lavoir (washhouses), and the Hotel de Menoc is another interesting building, with 15th century towers and an interesting facade rebuilt in the 19th century in neo-gothic style. You wll need to visit Melle tourist office before you explore, because they can pr...
One kilometre outside the town at Le Loubeau you can see the remains of the silver mines that once made Melle the centre of the Mint for France. The "mines d'argent des rois francs" ("silver mines of the French Kings) were active from the 7th century onwards and guided tours are available, although only 350 metres of tunnels can be visited out of a...
Melle est une commune nouvelle française résultant de la fusion au 1er janvier 2019 des communes de Mazières-sur-Béronne, Melle, Paizay-le-Tort, Saint-Léger-de-la-Martinière et Saint-Martin-lès-Melle, située dans le département des Deux-Sèvres et la région Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
- Visit the Royal Silver Mines. Melle was founded during the reign of Charlemagne, likely because silver was discovered nearby. The geography of the area was perfect for silver and experts have found numerous mines around Melle.
- Discover the Romanesque Triad. In the Middle Ages, the people of Melle raised not one but three churches: Saint-Hilaire, Saint-Pierre, and Saint-Savinien.
- Walk the Discovery Trail. There’s no better way to recover from long days of driving in our motorhome, than taking a walk through nature. Melle is surrounded by green space and the town has tapped into this to create a 7km botanical trail around the town’s edge.
- Admire Melle’s Contemporary Art. Art is an important part of Melle’s DNA. On top of the art exhibitions in the churches, the town organizes a summer biennial International Contemporary Art festival.
Visit Melle in the Deux-Sevres department (Poitou-Charentes region) of France: tourist information, places to visit and attractions near Melle.
Aug 15, 2023 · Top Things to Do in Melle, France: See Tripadvisor's 1,503 traveller reviews and photos of Melle tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in October. We have reviews of the best places to see in Melle. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions.
Aug 15, 2023 · Things to Do in Melle, France: See Tripadvisor's 1,511 traveler reviews and photos of Melle tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in October. We have reviews of the best places to see in Melle. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions.
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