Just 5 minutes drive from Paizay-le-tort, the market
town of Melle has a host of things to see and do:
- Les Mines d'Argent des Rois Francs
The Silver Mines of the Frankish Kings
Dating mostly from the 5th to the 10th-centuries the silver
from these mines were used by the kings of the Franks to mint
their coins.
The site includes an exhibition explaining the geology and the methods
used in the mining and minting. The guided tour of the site takes
you through around 250 metres of the mines. Also on the site is the
Caroligen garden displaying plants that would have been grown in the
area at the time that the mines were in use.
- Les Trois Églises Romanes
The Three Romanesque Churches
The three churches of Saint-Hilaire, Saint-Pierre and Saint-Savinien
are all well worth a visit. Saint-Hilaire especially, is noted for
the the carvings surrounding the doorway.
- Le Chemin de la Découverte
The Trail of Discovery
Created from the bed of a disused railway track and some old footpaths,
the 'Chemin de la Découverte' is a 6Km trail surrounding the
town. There are 230 species of Rose and over 800 species of trees
and shrubs from all over the world, some of them quite rare.
- L'Arboretum Forestier Départemental
The Départment Forestry Commission Aroboretum
A young forest of 1 hectare planted with 1500 trees of over
40 different species. The forest has been laid out in the image
of the different cantons of the Deux-Sevres départment. The
Arboretum is located on the 'Chemin de la Découverte',
with the nearest access point being next to the Camping ground.
The Arboretum is open all year round and is free of charge.
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