Machecoul

Geography

• in Loire-Atlantique: Bourgneuf-en-Retz, Fresnay-en-Retz, Saint-Même-le-Tenu, Saint-Mars-de-Coutais, Saint-Lumine-de-Coutais, Saint-Philbert-de-Grand-Lieu, La Marne, Paulx
• in Vendée: Bois-de-Céné.

  Population

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

Twin towns

• Ühlingen-Birkendorf, Baden-Württemberg, Germany;
• Shifnal, Shropshire, United Kingdom;
• Valea Drăganului, Transylvania, Romania.

  People

• Gilles de Rais, noble, soldier, and one time brother-in-arms of Joan of Arc. He was later accused and ultimately convicted of torturing, raping and murdering dozens, if not hundreds, of young children, mostly boys.
• :fr:Marc Eliard|Marc Éliard, bass player of the new wave/rock band Indochine.
• Cédric Michaud, marathon speed skater.
• Mickaël Landreau, professional football player.