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THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Melle

Things to do in melle, tours near melle.

melle france tourist information

Walks and hikes with donkeys

melle france tourist information

Green Venice Cycling Getaway

melle france tourist information

La Rochelle : Private Custom Private Walking Tour With a local

melle france tourist information

Discovery day in the footsteps of Baudet du Poitou

melle france tourist information

Discovery Day in the footsteps of the Builder Monks

melle france tourist information

Prestige Tour and Cognac Tasting

melle france tourist information

The Gabarres river route

melle france tourist information

La Rochelle Heritage Segway Tour

melle france tourist information

Discovery tour Braastad Cognac

melle france tourist information

Private tour Cognac House in Segonzac with tasting

Top attractions in melle.

melle france tourist information

Other Top Attractions around Melle

melle france tourist information

What travellers are saying

Quentin L

  • Mines d'Argent des Rois Francs
  • Eglise Saint Hilaire
  • Office de Tourisme du Pays Mellois
  • Musee Monet Et Goyon
  • Église Saint Savinien

THE 10 BEST Things to Do in Melle

Things to do in melle, tours near melle.

melle france tourist information

Walks and hikes with donkeys

melle france tourist information

Green Venice Cycling Getaway

melle france tourist information

La Rochelle : Private Custom Private Walking Tour With a local

melle france tourist information

Discovery day in the footsteps of Baudet du Poitou

melle france tourist information

Discovery Day in the footsteps of the Builder Monks

melle france tourist information

Prestige Tour and Cognac Tasting

melle france tourist information

The Gabarres river route

melle france tourist information

La Rochelle Heritage Segway Tour

melle france tourist information

Discovery tour Braastad Cognac

melle france tourist information

Private tour Cognac House in Segonzac with tasting

Top attractions in melle.

melle france tourist information

Other Top Attractions around Melle

melle france tourist information

What travellers are saying

Quentin L

  • Mines d'Argent des Rois Francs
  • Eglise Saint Hilaire
  • Office de Tourisme du Pays Mellois
  • Musee Monet Et Goyon
  • Église Saint Savinien

CheeseWeb - We travel slow because everywhere is somewhere

5 Surprising Reasons to Visit Melle, Poitou-Charentes, France

By andrew - October 20, 2015 (Updated: February 3, 2018)

5 surprising reasons to visit Melle, Poitou-Charentes, france

Melle is a charming town of roughly 4000 inhabitants, in the Poitou-Charentes region of France. Perched above the Béronne River, its narrow, medieval streets wind up to the top of a small hill.

Walking around Melle, you can't help but admire the architecture and green-spaces

Walking around Melle, you can’t help but admire the architecture and green spaces

The town does not appear on any top 10 lists but it has a fascinating history that surprised us. It’s exactly the type of place we like to discover and today we’re sharing 5 reasons you should visit Melle too.

1. Visit the Royal Silver Mines

Inside the silver mines you can explore the caves and tunnels

Inside the silver mines, you can explore the caves and tunnels

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. The most important discovery was a mine right next to Melle, now called the Mines d’Argent des Rois Francs .

Operating between 602 and 995, the mine was also given the right to mint coins between 864 and 995. The mine then disappeared from records, until it was rediscovered, in the 19th century, when the cliff face was quarried to build roads. Although the original entrance to the mine has been lost, over 20km of tunnels still exist underground, with 350m open to the public for guided visits.

A tour of the silver mine is a fascinating look at ancient techniques

A tour of the silver mine is a fascinating look at ancient techniques

I found the mine fascinating, not only because we were underground, but because we could see the silver in the rocks. Our guide, Jean-Philippe Marnais, explained how the silver was extracted from the mine, separated from the rock, and turned into coins.

Although historians know the general process for extracting the silver, the details have been lost to time. Jean-Philippe and his team have actually recreated the process, in order to film it, and are working with experts to refine the steps.

A visit to the mines includes the chance to watch the film and a guided tour, with a full explanation of the process of extracting the silver and minting a coin.

2. Discover the Romanesque Triad

Romanesque Saint-Hilare church is on the UNESCO World Heritage list

Romanesque Saint-Hilaire church is on the UNESCO World Heritage list

In the Middle Ages, the people of Melle raised not one but three churches: Saint-Hilaire, Saint-Pierre, and Saint-Savinien. All three were built in the Romanesque style, during the 11th and 12th centuries, pointing to a prosperous period for this town.

The Church of Saint-Hilaire , listed by UNESCO as a stage on the Way of St. James (Chemin de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle), is beautiful inside and out. Outside, the entrances feature numerous sculpted details, such as a huge sculpture of a man on a horse above the north door. The sculpture is said to be the Lord of Melle standing over the people and protecting them from danger. It is quite an imposing piece to walk under as you enter the church.

Saint-Hilare's exterior includes some magnificent sculptures

Saint-Hilare’s exterior includes some magnificent sculptures

Inside, the white stonework makes the interior bright and airy. But the piece that draws your eyes is a marble altar in the centre of the choir. Created by Mathieu Lehanneur and installed in 2011, this marble altar is stunning. The edges are stratified as if it was rising up out of the ground, playing with light and shadow as it rises. A small pool of water, filled with water from the nearby Béronne River, connects the piece with the environment around the church. It is a beautiful work of functional art that fits in perfectly with the white stone of the building yet contrasts with the ancient architecture.

The modern white marble alter is a stunning contrast to the Romanesque architecture of Saint-Hilare

The modern white marble altar is a stunning contrast to the Romanesque architecture of Saint-Hilare

The alter swirls and reaches out to the columns around it

The alter swirls and reaches out to the columns around it

If you need another reason to visit, the church is also home to an automated machine that plays religious music; an “ecclesiastical jukebox.” I wonder if it has any songs in English?

Saint-Hilaire is open to visitors all year round and the beautiful nave should be at the top of your list. Visits to Saint-Pierre and Saint-Savinien are unfortunately only possible in the summer when they are both used to house art exhibitions. Nonetheless, the exteriors of both are lovely examples of the Romanesque style and there are some interesting sculpted details on each.

3. Walk the Discovery Trail

What could be more restorative than a walk around Melle's botanical Discovery Trail

What could be more restorative than a walk around Melle’s botanical 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. This original arboretum is classified as one of Poitou-Charentes’ 13 “Remarkable Gardens” (Jardins Remarquables”) and it is easy to see why. Broken into three smaller sections, each part of the Discovery Trail specializes in particular trees and features churches, fountains, and restored washhouses.

The “ Chemin de Decouverte ” is a public area and is free to visit all year long. Walking the shady trail is perfect on a warm summer’s day and is magical in the autumn, with the colourful gold, yellow, and orange leaves on display. It is a lovely walk even if you aren’t interested in the details of the 1400 trees along the way.

4. Admire Melle’s Contemporary Art

Contemporary art contrasts with ancient architecture around Melle.

Contemporary art contrasts with the ancient architecture around Melle.

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. This year the work of 30 artists was put on display around the town. Each artist responded to the theme of “Earth Gardeners Heavenly Gardeners.” We were too early for this year’s festival, but we were able to see the nine permanent installations from previous biennials dotted around the town. The Contemporary pieces are a colourful contrast to the town’s ancient architecture.

5. Taste Local Products

Inside the Tourist Office is a shop featuring regional products.

Inside the Tourist Office is a shop featuring regional products.

We love trying new foods and local specialties, so it was a wonderful to see a section of the Melle Tourist Office selling local artisanal foods and handicrafts. Everything from bread to cheese and jams to oils was on display. Visit hungry at your own peril!

At the tourist office, we met with Anne-Laure Gallois who started her own small company, Art et Gourmandise , to produce high-quality pastries, chocolates, and other goodies. She does her best to source ingredients locally, organically, and sustainably.

Homemade salted caramel spread - yes please!

Homemade salted caramel spread – yes, please!

We tasted her homemade jam and a delicious caramel spread, which blew us away. We couldn’t resist taking some home!

For a taste of other products, check out Melle ’ s Friday farmer ’ s market . Here you’ll learn what is in season. Be sure to get your hands on some of the local goat’s cheese, “chabichou.” It’s delicious!

If all of the above activities aren’t enough to keep you satisfied, you can also check out the Monet & Goyon Motorcycle Museum or numerous other attractions in the area.

How can you not love a town that has art dedicated to goat cheese?

How can you not love a town that has art dedicated to goat cheese?

Melle surprised us in a great way. When we were planning our visit, Melle seemed like a sleepy spot on our itinerary. However, after spending a day there, we realized our mistake. Packed with history and with a variety of things to do, Melle should be in your Poitou-Charentes travel plans.

5 surprising reasons to visit Melle, Poitou-Charentes, france

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We ’ d like to thank our guide from the Melle Tourist Office for a lovely visit, and the Région Poitou-Charentes Tourism office for hosting us in the area. As always, all opinions are our own.

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Top Things to Do in Melle, France - Melle Must-See Attractions

Things to do in melle, tours near melle.

melle france tourist information

Walks and hikes with donkeys

melle france tourist information

Green Venice Cycling Getaway

melle france tourist information

La Rochelle : Private Custom Private Walking Tour With a local

melle france tourist information

Discovery day in the footsteps of Baudet du Poitou

melle france tourist information

Discovery Day in the footsteps of the Builder Monks

melle france tourist information

Prestige Tour and Cognac Tasting

melle france tourist information

The Gabarres river route

melle france tourist information

La Rochelle Heritage Segway Tour

melle france tourist information

Discovery tour Braastad Cognac

melle france tourist information

Private tour Cognac House in Segonzac with tasting

Top attractions in melle.

melle france tourist information

Other Top Attractions around Melle

melle france tourist information

What travellers are saying

Quentin L

  • Mines d'Argent des Rois Francs
  • Eglise Saint Hilaire
  • Office de Tourisme du Pays Mellois
  • Musee Monet Et Goyon
  • Église Saint Savinien

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Melle, france: tourism, information and visitor reviews.

Melle is situated in France, in the Poitou-Charentes region where it is within Deux-Sevres and the local Niort area.

Geographical information

Place name: Melle

Local Region: Niort

Sub-region: Deux-Sevres

Main Region: Poitou-Charentes

Country: France

Latitude: 46.22285 South (46°13'22"N)

Longitude: -0.14216 West (0°8'31"W)

Altitude: 138 metres above sea-level

Population: 4342 (most recent estimate only)

Distance from Melle to other selected towns in France

Distances are 'as the crow flies' not driving distances!

  • distance from Paris: 347 km
  • distance from Marseille: 544 km
  • distance from Lyon: 389 km
  • distance from Toulouse: 317 km
  • distance from Nice: 646 km
  • distance from Nantes: 154 km
  • distance from Strasbourg: 648 km
  • distance from Montpellier: 429 km
  • distance from Bordeaux: 157 km
  • distance from Lille: 544 km

Find driving distances to Melle from all destinations in France at Europe driving distances

More places in the same region

  • Brioux-sur-Boutonne
  • Celles-sur-Belle
  • Gournay-Loize
  • Mazieres-sur-Beronne
  • Paizay-le-Tort
  • Saint-Coutant
  • Saint-Genard
  • Saint-Martin-les-Melle
  • Saint-Romans-les-Melle
  • Saint-Vincent-la-Chatre

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Tourism around Melle

Guide, holidays & weekends in melle.

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Melle Property Insight

Melle is a discreet town of Poitou Charentes . It is located between Niort and Poitiers , in an area part of the Deux Sevres department. The town has 4,000 inhabitants. It is quite renowned for being the headquarters of the candidate to the French Presidency in 2007, Segolene Royal.

There are the first traces of human activity in the area during Antiquity, more precisely in the 2nd and 4th centuries. Melle was in the past a fantastic mining area (silver, lead) as huge resources had been found in the soil of the town. Nowadays, a small museum and tours let you discover remnants of this glorious period for the town.

Melle is a place for nature lovers. The town has created magnificent gardens letting you discover more than 100 species of rare plants, paths around Melle with more than 1,000 types of trees. Along with other communes around, hiking paths have been created that lets yo discover the forests around too. Eventually, around the town there are grottos where you can discover bats through guided tours. Melle is definitely a town for culture and nature lovers willing to settle in a traditional area of France.

Melle Immobilier & Property Market Trends

Properties in Melle in 2009 are quite cheap. Figures tend to show that one-bedroom property costs about €99,000 and you should account €119,000 for two-bedroom houses. Three-bedroom goods cost on average €150,000 when larger properties cost about €186,000 and more. Apartments in Melle cost about €1,520 /square metre when new apartments are generally worth €2,730 /square metre.

Only 4% of properties are second homes, which means that the area is still unspoilt and quite little-known. Investing in the area could be a clever choice as Melle and the Deux Sevres as a whole are an up and coming area. Indeed the department has discreet but charming assets which begin to be acknowledged by holidaymakers. Visitor numbers show that the future of tourism in the area is quite promising.

To get updated info about property prices in Poitou Charentes, please browse our French Property Market Reports published in the News Section every month.

Click here to have an overview of Poitou Charentes Property Prices .

5 Reasons to Buy a Property in Melle

Melle is a litlle-known town of southern Deux Sevres which has many subtle assets. The town itself is located in a small valley with lush nature around. Within a stone’s throw from the town, many activities can be done too.

Culture, art and historical heritage: it is no wonder why the small town has 20 cultural clubs. The town boasts many monuments and buildings such as 4 gorgeous churches, a nice market hall as well as other interesting buildings. Many people fond of this architectural and cultural legacy will make you discover the town’s treasures.

Tranquillity and scenery: the area around Melle is not densely populated but this means that you can enjoy life in a sound, peaceful environment. A great place to rent a house as the area becomes more and more accessible thanks to improvements brought to the regional motorways and airports.

Activities: within minutes from Melle, you can have access to gorgeous forest or very pleasant lakes where it is good to have a walk or have a picnic meal. Within less than 1 ½ hours, access the Atlantic coasts and its refined pleasures or visit the Marais Poitevin and its stunning marshland.

Good food: Melle produces its own cheese, the Chabichou . It is obviously made of goat’s milk as Poitou Charentes holds 90% of the French goats. It is a very creamy and soft produce. The tourteau Fromagé is the other absolute star of Melle. This mouthwatering cheesecake is made with fresh goat cheese. Its black crust is gorgeous and the inside is very light and fresh. We will not say more about this great speciiality, as tasting is worth 10,000 words...

Location – transport links: Melle is easily reachable from the UK. Many budget airlines land in Angouleme , Poitiers or La Rochelle airports - all being less then 1h30 by car from Melle. TGV high-speed trains also stop in Poitiers, Saint Maixent and Niort (30 mins around the town). The crossroads of 3 main French motorways is located hardly 30 km from Melle. The town is thus a good starting point to discover other areas of France. Conversely, holidaymakers will easily be able to reach your house if you plan to set up a gite or guest house business.

Property Styles and Architecture in Melle

The area around Melle is home to a number of traditional property styles. Properties are often gathered to form a hamlet, originally these hamlets were founded around a common, central well. Houses often have outbuildings. To the north of Melle, houses are more widespread in the hinterland.

  • Charentaise houses : being located to the south of the Deux Sevres, Melle has clear charentaises influences in its architecture. Thus you will find charentaise properties in and around the town, often grouped in hamlets. Charentaise properties are stone-made properties. Charentaise houses come with a cellar and a vast garden. These traditional houses are similar to Bastides when it comes to their layout and features. Their shape is rectangular. Wood is largely used in the house, notably for the stairs.
  • Manor houses: these stone properties are really gorgeous. Of massive dimensions most often, their walls are made of exposed stones. They generally comprise outbuildings. These properties make the most of the region’s excellent weather. Their many windows explain why most rooms are luminous and pleasant in any season. The roof has red tiles as this is a common usage in Poitou-Charentes. The garden, often fenced all along, is closed by an entrance gate which highlights the prestigious profile of the property.

Click here for more info about the Architecture of Poitou Charentes .

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Prof Rory Naismith holding a Byzantine silver coin in the Fitzwilliam Museum

Silver coin boom in medieval England due to melted down Byzantine treasures, study reveals

Chemical analysis reveals origin of coinage that stimulated trade and helped fuel development of new towns from seventh century

Several decades after the Sutton Hoo burial , starting in about AD660, there was a sudden rise in the number of silver coins in circulation in England, for reasons that have long puzzled archaeologists and historians.

The new rush of silver coinage stimulated trade and helped fuel the development of the new towns springing up at the time – but where did it come from? Were the Anglo-Saxon kings recycling old Roman scrap metal? Or had they found lucrative sources from mines in Europe?

Metallurgical analysis of early medieval coins has revealed the answer: the power brokers of the time were melting down their stockpiles of Byzantine silver treasures, in a type of early medieval quantitative easing that kickstarted the economy of England and established a monetary system that would last for a millennium.

Chemical analysis of coins from the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge has revealed two distinct phases of the silver rush. For almost a century from the 660s, coins were minted from silver bullion that originated in the Byzantine empire on the eastern Mediterranean. Then, after stocks of those treasures were drying up in about 750, silver from a mine in western France came to predominate across Europe, during the reign of Charlemagne.

A selection of the Fitzwilliam Museum coins that were studied

“This was such an exciting discovery,” said Rory Naismith , a professor of early medieval English history at the University of Cambridge, one of the academics behind the study. “Now we have the first archaeometric confirmation that Byzantine silver was the dominant source behind the great seventh-century surge in minting and trade around the North Sea.”

The coins that were minted were silver pennies – each perhaps equivalent to £20-£30 today – which formed “the bedrock of the English economy” until at least the 16th century, Naismith said.

Intriguingly, the isotopic signature of the Byzantine silver showed it was already decades or more old – most likely it had been prized as a way to display its owner’s power and wealth. The ruler honoured at Sutton Hoo , thought to be Raedwald of East Anglia, was buried with a collection of Byzantine silver bowls and other items which, if melted down, could have made 10,000 pennies, the authors say.

“It’s fair to say we were surprised by this result,” said Dr Jane Kershaw, an associate professor at Oxford University’s school of archaeology and the study’s lead author. “We know of some surviving Byzantine silver from Anglo-Saxon England, most famously from Sutton Hoo, but far greater amounts of Byzantine silver must have originally been held in Anglo-Saxon stores.”

She added: “This was quantitative easing – elites were liquidating silver stored in valuable objects and using that silver to make coins that then circulated widely. It would have had a big impact on people’s lives. Far more people than before would have used coined money and thought in terms of monetary values.”

Not only rulers but also powerful monasteries minted their own coins, said Naismith. “There wasn’t a Bank of England at this stage – if you want some coins, you make some coins. You just need to be someone who’s got the wealth to do it.”

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By the middle of the eighth century, however, the silver pennies were becoming lighter and made with less silver as stocks of the Byzantine bullion ran low. Around this time, the researchers found, it was increasingly replaced with silver from a mine at Melle, in western France.

Naismith said the new research “shows how connections both near and far are really important to the economy [of this period]. It shows that if people in England wanted to have a complex economy with currency, they couldn’t just rely on the resources at home – they needed to deal with people in the Mediterranean, in France, in all sorts of other places.

“It shows interdependency, and how connections and networks have been fundamental to economic success for hundreds and hundreds of years.”

The research is published in Antiquity.

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Saint-Martin-les-Melle tourism and travel guide

Photo of Saint-Martin-les-Melle in Deux-Sevres

Photo is of Melle Church of Saint-Hilaire at 1 km from Saint-Martin-les-Melle

Visit Saint-Martin-les-Melle: highlights and tourist information

Saint-Martin-les-Melle is situated in the Deux-Sevres department and Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.

Below you can see some of the places that we have visited and reviewed and can recommend when you are sightseeing close to Saint-Martin-les-Melle in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

Popular places to visit nearby include Melle Church of Saint-Hilaire at 1 km and Melle at 1 km.

Saint-Martin-les-Melle, France: places to visit and attractions

Note that all distances below are 'direct' and real driving distances will be greater!

Melle Church of Saint-Hilaire

Melle Church of Saint-Hilaire

Melle

Chateau de Cherveux

Coulon

Marais Poitevin

Ruffec

Verteuil-sur-Charente

Saint-Jean d'Angely

Saint-Jean d'Angely

Nanteuil-en-Vallee

Nanteuil-en-Vallee

Bayers

Nieul-sur-l'Autise

Surgeres

... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Deux-Sevres

Arrange a visit to Saint-Martin-les-Melle

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Hotels in Saint-Martin-les-Melle

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Reserve excursions

Map of places to visit near saint-martin-les-melle, markets in and near saint-martin-les-melle.

  • Melle: market Friday (1km)
  • Brioux-sur-Boutonne: market Thursday (10km)
  • Lezay: market Tuesday (12km)
  • Chef-Boutonne: market Saturday (14km)
  • La Mothe-Saint-Heray: market Thursday (16km)
  • La Creche: market Sunday (19km)
  • Saint-Maixent-l'Ecole: market Saturday (21km)
  • Sauze-Vaussais: market Thursday (23km)
  • Chaunay: market Monday (25km)
  • Niort: market Thursday all day & Saturday all day (26km)

More information about Saint-Martin-les-Melle, Poitou-Charentes

Tourist attractions near saint-martin-les-melle, france.

What to do at Saint-Martin-les-Melle? Some places with official tourist classifications and other places of interest to visit nearby that should provide inspiration if you are visiting Saint-Martin-les-Melle.

Grand sites of France

  • Marais Poitevin (41km)

Heritage sites

  • Melle église St Hilaire (monuments on French pilgrim routes) (1km)
  • Aulnay église St Pierre (monuments on French pilgrim routes) (27km)
  • Saint-Jean-d'Angély, abbaye royale (monuments on French pilgrim routes) (42km)
  • Poitiers église Saint-Hilaire le Grand (monuments on French pilgrim routes) (55km)

Most beautiful villages in France

(see also beautiful French villages )

  • Coulon (34km)

National Monuments

  • Sanxay (33km)
  • Abbey Saint-Sauveur de Charroux (44km)

Churches and religious monuments

  • Eglise de Saint-Brice (Saint-Mande-sur-Bredoire) (25km)
  • Eglise de Saint-Pierre (Dampierre-sur-Boutonne) (26km)
  • Eglise de Notre-Dame (Lusignan) (32km)
  • Eglise de Saint Pierre (Saint-Pierre-d'Exideuil) (34km)
  • Eglise de Saint André (Ruffec) (35km)
  • Eglise de Saint Nicolas (Civray) (36km)
  • Eglise de Saint-Eulalie (Benet) (38km)
  • Eglise de Saint Vivien (Bagnizeau) (39km)
  • Eglise de Saint Germain (Varaize) (39km)
  • Eglise de Genouillé (Genouille) (40km)
  • Eglise de Saint Pierre et eglise de Saint Hérie (Matha) (41km)
  • Abbaye Bénédictine (Charroux) (44km)
  • Abbaye Royale (Nieul-sur-l'Autise) (46km)
  • Eglise de Saint Maurice (Saint-Maurice-la-Clouere) (47km)
  • Abbaye Saint Pierre et Eglise de Saint Nicolas (Maillezais) (47km)
  • Eglise de Saint-Savinien (Fenioux) (50km)
  • Abbaye de Nouaillé-Mauperthuis (Nouaille-Maupertuis) (55km)

Remarkable gardens

  • Arboretum du chemin de la découverte (1km)
  • Jardin monastique médiéval (36km)
  • Parc et jardin de l’Abrègement (40km)
  • La Guyonnière (40km)
  • Laverré (45km)

Towns of Art and history

  • Poitiers (55km)

Villages d'etape

(recommended place to break a long journey)

  • Vivonne (39km)

Zoo and/or wildlife park

  • Zoodyssée (20km)
  • Vallée des singes (monkeys) (35km)
  • Natur'Zoo de Mervent (55km)

Geography and distances

Saint-Martin-les-Melle is in the western-centre of France at 26 kilometres from Niort, the department capital (general information: Saint-Martin-les-Melle is 348 kilometres from Paris).

Geographical Information

Commune: Saint-Martin-les-Melle

Canton: Melle

Arrondissement: Niort

Department: Deux-Sevres

Region: Poitou-Charentes

New region: Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Postcode: 79500

Distance to Saint-Martin-les-Melle

from Niort (prefecture): 26 km

from Paris: 348 km

from Calais: 546 km

from Nice: 648 km

from Bordeaux: 157 km

from Strasbourg: 650 km

Getting here

Most visitors will come by car, as an excursion from the Loire Valley or approximately 4 hours from the channel port at Saint-Malo. For driving distances to Saint-Martin-les-Melle from anywhere in France see driving distances and route planner .

We have 9 other places listed as being close (less than kilometres from ): Celles-sur-Belle , Chail , Mazieres-sur-Beronne , Melle , Paizay-le-Tort , Pouffonds , Saint-Genard , Saint-Leger-de-la-Martiniere and Saint-Romans-les-Melle .

This page in French: Visiter Saint-Martin-les-Melle

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IMAGES

  1. 5 Surprising Reasons to Visit Melle, Poitou-Charentes, France

    melle france tourist information

  2. Visiter Melle, guide de voyage et information de tourisme pour Melle

    melle france tourist information

  3. 5 Surprising Reasons to Visit Melle, Poitou-Charentes, France

    melle france tourist information

  4. Tourist-Information im Rathaus samstags in der Zeit von 10 bis 12 Uhr

    melle france tourist information

  5. Que voir, que faire lors d’un séjour dans le petit village de Melles

    melle france tourist information

  6. Melle, France (Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany): tourism, attractions and

    melle france tourist information

COMMENTS

  1. Melle France travel and tourism, attractions and sightseeing and Melle

    Visit near Melle with France This Way reviews. Melle Church of Saint-Hilaire. The church of Saint-Hilare in Melle is a very impressive example of 12th century architecture. Niort. Niort is a picturesque large town with a donjon, a market hall and a large historic centre to explore. Chateau de Cherveux.

  2. Things to Do in Melle, France

    Things to Do in Melle, France: See Tripadvisor's 1,474 traveler reviews and photos of Melle tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in April. We have reviews of the best places to see in Melle. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions.

  3. Tourist-Information Melle

    Sollten Sie nicht direkt fündig werden oder Hilfe benötigen, stehen Ihnen die Mitarbeiterinnen der Tourist-Information unter 05422/965-311 oder -312 oder [email protected] gerne zur Verfügung.

  4. Melle

    80 m², 2 bedrooms. 392 € to 686 € per week. Stone cottage on two levels located in an enclosed, peaceful and green estate with swimming pool, pleasure gardens and equipped leisure ground. Ideally placed to visit Niort, the Marais Poitevin, the Futuroscope, La Rochelle and the Ile de Ré.

  5. THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Melle (Updated 2024)

    Top Things to Do in Melle, France: See Tripadvisor's 1,472 traveller reviews and photos of Melle tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in April. We have reviews of the best places to see in Melle. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions.

  6. The Romanesque triad of Melle

    Your free month. A stop along the Way of St. James, the small town of Melle is an unmissable stop for all lovers of Romanesque art, with its three churches from the 11th and 12th centuries, all listed Historic Monuments. The Church of St. Hilary is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the paths of the Way of St. James.

  7. THE 10 BEST Things to Do in Melle

    Things to Do in Melle. Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more. 12 places sorted by traveller favourites. 1. Mines d'Argent des Rois Francs. Explains how silver was dug out of the mines. 2. Eglise Saint Hilaire. We visited the Silver Mines after seeing the church.

  8. Melle, France 2024: All You Need to Know Before You Go

    Easter break ideas for the whole family. Make the most of the season with these top spots, stays & tours. Check it out. Melle Tourism: Tripadvisor has 1,471 reviews of Melle Hotels, Attractions, and Restaurants making it your best Melle resource.

  9. 5 Surprising Reasons to Visit Melle, Poitou-Charentes, France

    1. Visit the Royal Silver Mines. Inside the silver mines, you can explore the caves and tunnels. 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. The most important discovery was a mine right next ...

  10. Office de Tourisme du Pays Mellois

    2 Place Bujault, 79500 Melle France. Reach out directly. Visit website Call Email. Full view. ... The tourist information office is tucked away in a back street but once found it is a treasure trove. Lots of information/brochures and helpful English speaking staff too when I visited. Also lots of local souvenirs whether produce or craft items ...

  11. Melle, France 2024: All You Must Know Before You Go

    Melle Tourism: Tripadvisor has 1,471 reviews of Melle Hotels, Attractions, and Restaurants making it your best Melle resource. ... Hire a Trip Designer. Flights. Rental Cars. Add a Place. More. See all photos. Europe. France. Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Deux-Sevres. Melle. Melle. Melle Tourism Melle Hotels Melle Bed and Breakfast Melle Vacation Rentals ...

  12. THE 10 BEST Things to Do in Melle

    Things to Do in Melle, France: See Tripadvisor's 1,471 traveller reviews and photos of Melle tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in March. We have reviews of the best places to see in Melle. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions.

  13. Melle, Deux-Sèvres

    Saint Pierre Saint Savinien. Melle (French pronunciation:) is a commune in the Deux-Sèvres department in western France. On 1 January 2019, the former communes Mazières-sur-Béronne, Paizay-le-Tort, Saint-Léger-de-la-Martinière and Saint-Martin-lès-Melle were merged into Melle.. It is today best known as the home town of Ségolène Royal, the 2007 Socialist candidate for the election of ...

  14. Melle, France: tourism, information and visitor reviews

    Melle in the Poitou-Charentes region of France (Deux-Sevres) : weather, maps, tourist attractions, places to visit, sports and golf and train stations near Melle Sidebar Menu ... Melle is situated in France, in the Poitou-Charentes region where it is within Deux-Sevres and the local Niort area. Geographical information. Place name: Melle.

  15. The Silver Mines of the Frankish Kings in Melle ~ Holidays France

    Enjoy a getaway just 15 minutes from the Domaine du Lambon, and visit a unique piece of French history: authentic silver mines, priceless relics from the time of Charlemagne and an industry that has long since disappeared in France. Guided tours of the underground network of the Melle mines, beautifully presented in sound and light, bear ...

  16. Tourism around Melle

    Tourism around Melle Guide, holidays & weekends in Melle. Find out more about Melle. Search. Cancel. 15 tourist sites found. Melle ...

  17. Church of Saint-Hilaire in Melle: a tourist guide

    Visit Melle Church of Saint-Hilaire, France. Photo Gallery Book a visit. The Church of Saint-Hilare is situted a few hundred metres south of the current town centre in Melle, a town in the Deux-Sèvres department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. It is now lsted as a UNESCO heritage site, in part because of its role as a historic pilgrimage destination.

  18. THE 5 BEST Things to Do in Melle

    4. Historic Sites. 3. Wildpark Diedrichsburg. 7. Nature & Wildlife Areas. By AST203. The food is good and the building really unusual. A trip up to the top of the tower is well worth the many flights of...

  19. Melle Property Information, Deux Sevres, France

    Three-bedroom goods cost on average €150,000 when larger properties cost about €186,000 and more. Apartments in Melle cost about €1,520 /square metre when new apartments are generally worth €2,730 /square metre. Only 4% of properties are second homes, which means that the area is still unspoilt and quite little-known.

  20. Silver coin boom in medieval England due to melted down Byzantine

    Chemical analysis reveals origin of coinage that stimulated trade and helped fuel development of new towns from seventh century

  21. Saint-Romans-les-Melle tourism and travel guide

    Saint-Romans-les-Melle tourism and travel guide. Photo is of Melle at 4 km from Saint-Romans-les-Melle. Search Melle hotels. Visit Saint-Romans-les-Melle: highlights and tourist information ... Saint-Romans-les-Melle, France: places to visit and attractions. Note that all distances below are 'direct' and real driving distances will be greater ...

  22. Saint-Martin-les-Melle tourism and travel guide

    Tourist attractions near Saint-Martin-les-Melle, France. What to do at Saint-Martin-les-Melle? Some places with official tourist classifications and other places of interest to visit nearby that should provide inspiration if you are visiting Saint-Martin-les-Melle. Grand sites of France. Marais Poitevin (41km) Heritage sites. Melle église St ...