Coordinates: 46°59′38″N 1°49′18″W / 46.9938888889°N 1.82166666667°W / 46.9938888889; -1.82166666667
Machecoul is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France.
Its inhabitants are called Machecoulais.
[edit] Geography
The commune of Machecoul is surrounded by the following communes:
[edit] Sights
- Château de Machecoul (Castle of Machecoul): close to the town centre are the ruins of a castle once owned by the infamous child-murderer Gilles de Rais (1404-1440), and on summer evenings one can partake of a son et lumière show telling his story.
- Notre-Dame-de-la-Chaume Abbey
- 13th century Romanesque church
[edit] 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.
[edit] Twin towns
Machecoul is twinned with Shifnal, Shropshire, United Kingdom.
[edit] People
Machecoul was the birthplace of:
- Gilles de Rais (1404-1440), 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
- Marc Eliard (born 1958), bass player of the new wave/rock band Indochine
- Cédric Michaud (born 1976), marathon speed skater
- Mickaël Landreau (born 1979), professional football (soccer) player
- David Leray (born 1984), football (soccer) defender
[edit] See also
