This multimedia tour will guide you through the history and heritage of La Mothe-Saint-Héray and the Mellois area using videos, audio commentary and quizzes about the Sèvre Niortaise river, La Mothe-Saint-Héray castle and Protestantism in the Mellois area.
This charming little waterway is actually a coastal river that we invite you to explore here in a video. Out of all of its many mills, we stop to spend time at the one by which this tour starts: Moulin l’Abbé mill, the mechanisms of which are still working.
Take time for a break to understand how Protestantism spread widely and became established in the long term in the Mellois area, starting from the 16th century. This is also an opportunity to revisit the origin of this religious reform movement.
What is the purpose of this building?
It’s one of the many wash houses that line the Sèvre Niortaise river. Large numbers of wash houses were built in the 19th century out of a concern for public health as clean clothes were among the hygiene measures vital to preventing the spread of diseases such as cholera, smallpox and typhoid.
In addition to public wash houses, which were built by the municipalities, some residents took advantage of their land on the banks of the Sèvre to set up small private wash houses at the end of their gardens, where the female members of the household could do their laundry in complete peace and privacy. This was because the public wash houses, nicknamed “moulins à paroles” (chatter mills) or “hôtel des bavardes” (gossip houses), were meeting places for women, in good times and bad. They could echo with songs and laughter, but also with bad-mouthing, arguments and shouting. There was fierce competition to get the best spot, where the water was not yet dirtied by laundry belonging to others.
It’s one of the many wash houses that line the Sèvre Niortaise river. Large numbers of wash houses were built in the 19th century out of a concern for public health as clean clothes were among the hygiene measures vital to preventing the spread of diseases such as cholera, smallpox and typhoid.
In addition to public wash houses, which were built by the municipalities, some residents took advantage of their land on the banks of the Sèvre to set up small private wash houses at the end of their gardens, where the female members of the household could do their laundry in complete peace and privacy. This was because the public wash houses, nicknamed “moulins à paroles” (chatter mills) or “hôtel des bavardes” (gossip houses), were meeting places for women, in good times and bad. They could echo with songs and laughter, but also with bad-mouthing, arguments and shouting. There was fierce competition to get the best spot, where the water was not yet dirtied by laundry belonging to others.
It’s one of the many wash houses that line the Sèvre Niortaise river. Large numbers of wash houses were built in the 19th century out of a concern for public health as clean clothes were among the hygiene measures vital to preventing the spread of diseases such as cholera, smallpox and typhoid.
In addition to public wash houses, which were built by the municipalities, some residents took advantage of their land on the banks of the Sèvre to set up small private wash houses at the end of their gardens, where the female members of the household could do their laundry in complete peace and privacy. This was because the public wash houses, nicknamed “moulins à paroles” (chatter mills) or “hôtel des bavardes” (gossip houses), were meeting places for women, in good times and bad. They could echo with songs and laughter, but also with bad-mouthing, arguments and shouting. There was fierce competition to get the best spot, where the water was not yet dirtied by laundry belonging to others.
You are in front of the outer courtyard of a castle that is no longer here today. Here, we will tell you about the main events that marked its history, from its creation to its demolition in the 19th century.
You are facing the Orangerie belonging to the former castle. This is an opportunity to discover what the castle would have looked like in the 18th century and how it was located at the centre of its annexes and grounds, thanks to CGI reconstructions.
In this area, which was strongly affected by Protestantism, the Wars of Religion were particularly devastating for both sides. Look over the images of this complex and turbulent history.
The many Protestant churches in the Mellois area, as well as other more subtle indicators, show the significance that the reformed religion continued to have in the area after the end of the dragonnades policy.
This space, located in the former castle gardens, has had a specific function since the end of the 19th century. Do you know what this is?
It is an open-air theatre that was created according to the wishes of Dr Pierre-Urbain Corneille-Saint-Marc (1862-1945), a dramaturgy enthusiast and descendant of Pierre Corneille (+1684), the famed author of Le Cid. Having moved to La Mothe-Saint-Héray after studying medicine in Bordeaux, he convinced the mayor to create this open-air theatre. It was established in front of a small grotto that was used as a stage backdrop on the former grounds of a castle that was acquired by the town in 1890. Pierre-Urbain Corneille-Saint-Marc founded the Théâtre Populaire Poitevin troupe, which performed 24 shows here between 1896 and 1938. Performances are held during the fête des rosières festival, a major annual event in the town.
It is an open-air theatre that was created according to the wishes of Dr Pierre-Urbain Corneille-Saint-Marc (1862-1945), a dramaturgy enthusiast and descendant of Pierre Corneille (+1684), the famed author of Le Cid. Having moved to La Mothe-Saint-Héray after studying medicine in Bordeaux, he convinced the mayor to create this open-air theatre. It was established in front of a small grotto that was used as a stage backdrop on the former grounds of a castle that was acquired by the town in 1890. Pierre-Urbain Corneille-Saint-Marc founded the Théâtre Populaire Poitevin troupe, which performed 24 shows here between 1896 and 1938. Performances are held during the fête des rosières festival, a major annual event in the town.
It is an open-air theatre that was created according to the wishes of Dr Pierre-Urbain Corneille-Saint-Marc (1862-1945), a dramaturgy enthusiast and descendant of Pierre Corneille (+1684), the famed author of Le Cid. Having moved to La Mothe-Saint-Héray after studying medicine in Bordeaux, he convinced the mayor to create this open-air theatre. It was established in front of a small grotto that was used as a stage backdrop on the former grounds of a castle that was acquired by the town in 1890. Pierre-Urbain Corneille-Saint-Marc founded the Théâtre Populaire Poitevin troupe, which performed 24 shows here between 1896 and 1938. Performances are held during the fête des rosières festival, a major annual event in the town.
This circular building is a dovecote. Guess the number of nesting boxes (or nesting holes) that it has.
This circular building is a dovecote. Guess the number of nesting boxes (or nesting holes) that it has.
This dovecote has 780 nesting holes or boxes. It dates back to the 17th century and was owned by the Benedictine convent located about 100 metres away. This type of grand dovecote was widespread across the Mellois area before the French Revolution. Pigeons were not only a source of inexpensive meat, as their droppings were also collected to fertilise gardens. However, pigeons were also seen as pests that ate the grain in the fields and polluted the streets of towns with their droppings. This caused many disputes between those who owned pigeons and their annoyed neighbours. In addition, keeping these birds was highly regulated, as were permits to kill them.
The dovecotes were built in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, but all were fitted with glover openings to provide ventilation and light, preserving the birds’ health. These glovers also enabled them to take flight. The protruding strip in the centre of the dovecote wall was added to prevent snakes and rodents from getting in through the glovers.
This dovecote has 780 nesting holes or boxes. It dates back to the 17th century and was owned by the Benedictine convent located about 100 metres away. This type of grand dovecote was widespread across the Mellois area before the French Revolution. Pigeons were not only a source of inexpensive meat, as their droppings were also collected to fertilise gardens. However, pigeons were also seen as pests that ate the grain in the fields and polluted the streets of towns with their droppings. This caused many disputes between those who owned pigeons and their annoyed neighbours. In addition, keeping these birds was highly regulated, as were permits to kill them.
The dovecotes were built in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, but all were fitted with glover openings to provide ventilation and light, preserving the birds’ health. These glovers also enabled them to take flight. The protruding strip in the centre of the dovecote wall was added to prevent snakes and rodents from getting in through the glovers.
This dovecote has 780 nesting holes or boxes. It dates back to the 17th century and was owned by the Benedictine convent located about 100 metres away. This type of grand dovecote was widespread across the Mellois area before the French Revolution. Pigeons were not only a source of inexpensive meat, as their droppings were also collected to fertilise gardens. However, pigeons were also seen as pests that ate the grain in the fields and polluted the streets of towns with their droppings. This caused many disputes between those who owned pigeons and their annoyed neighbours. In addition, keeping these birds was highly regulated, as were permits to kill them.
The dovecotes were built in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, but all were fitted with glover openings to provide ventilation and light, preserving the birds’ health. These glovers also enabled them to take flight. The protruding strip in the centre of the dovecote wall was added to prevent snakes and rodents from getting in through the glovers.
The Mellois area is renowned for its Romanesque churches, but the 15th and 16th centuries also left their mark on some buildings. This video sequence will give you a synopsis of Flamboyant-style Gothic elements and wall murals from this period.
You are standing in front of the Maison des Rosières. This major traditional festival, which blesses the marriages of particularly well-respected young Catholic women, is still continued today in La Mothe-Saint-Héray. Listen to the story of this tradition.
La Mothe-Saint-Héray has its own original recipe for fouace, a delicious brioche bread inherited from a long tradition of baking. But from what meaning does the term “fouace” derive?
The etymology of “fouace” stems from the Latin “focacius”, meaning “cooked under ashes”. The term is used widely in different forms to refer to various types of brioche bread, such as focaccia in Italy and fougasse in Provence.
Fouace is made with the finest and best part of flour, after unwanted elements have been removed in the milling process. Although it looks like a bread, it belongs to the realm of patisserie, rather than boulangerie. In the areas surrounding La Mothe-Saint-Héray, and particularly in Bagnault, a very high-quality flour called “minot” has been produced and used since the Middles Ages to prepare a local fouace that has gained a considerable reputation, especially among pilgrims on the Route of Santiago de Compostela.
Fouace artisans, although numerous at one time, have now disappeared, but the tradition remains among some pastry chefs, like the one whose shop you are standing in front of, which is the keeper of the original recipe for Fouace de Rabelais.
The etymology of “fouace” stems from the Latin “focacius”, meaning “cooked under ashes”. The term is used widely in different forms to refer to various types of brioche bread, such as focaccia in Italy and fougasse in Provence.
Fouace is made with the finest and best part of flour, after unwanted elements have been removed in the milling process. Although it looks like a bread, it belongs to the realm of patisserie, rather than boulangerie. In the areas surrounding La Mothe-Saint-Héray, and particularly in Bagnault, a very high-quality flour called “minot” has been produced and used since the Middles Ages to prepare a local fouace that has gained a considerable reputation, especially among pilgrims on the Route of Santiago de Compostela.
Fouace artisans, although numerous at one time, have now disappeared, but the tradition remains among some pastry chefs, like the one whose shop you are standing in front of, which is the keeper of the original recipe for Fouace de Rabelais.
The etymology of “fouace” stems from the Latin “focacius”, meaning “cooked under ashes”. The term is used widely in different forms to refer to various types of brioche bread, such as focaccia in Italy and fougasse in Provence.
Fouace is made with the finest and best part of flour, after unwanted elements have been removed in the milling process. Although it looks like a bread, it belongs to the realm of patisserie, rather than boulangerie. In the areas surrounding La Mothe-Saint-Héray, and particularly in Bagnault, a very high-quality flour called “minot” has been produced and used since the Middles Ages to prepare a local fouace that has gained a considerable reputation, especially among pilgrims on the Route of Santiago de Compostela.
Fouace artisans, although numerous at one time, have now disappeared, but the tradition remains among some pastry chefs, like the one whose shop you are standing in front of, which is the keeper of the original recipe for Fouace de Rabelais.
You are in Place de l’Abbé Jallet. During which major French event did this figure, born in La Mothe-Saint-Héray, become famous?
You are in Place de l’Abbé Jallet. During which major French event did this figure, born in La Mothe-Saint-Héray, become famous?
Jacques Jallet took part in the French Revolution. As an elected representative of the clergy for Poitou, he responded to Louis XVI’s summons that convened the Estates General in Versailles in 1789. During this assembly of the three estates that represented all of the subjects in the kingdom (the clergy, the nobility and the third estate), he supported the lower level clergy before joining the third estate, which included all those who were neither clergy nor nobility. He voted in favour of transferring the Church’s goods to the State.
Jacques Jallet was born in La Mothe-Saint-Héray in 1732. He was soon chosen for the priesthood. Although he chose to study law in Poitiers, a romantic affair put an end to his career as a lawyer. In 1757, he was finally ordained as a priest. The French Revolution pushed him towards political militancy once and for all, campaigning against the death penalty and for priests to be allowed to marry. He died in 1791 following a stroke.
Father Jallet was depicted by the great artist Jacques-Louis David in the sketch for the painting The Tennis Court Oath, 20 June 1789, the ambitious final painting of which was never completed, due to the French Revolution.
A bust immortalising Father Jallet is also in La Mothe-Saint-Héray. It is located next to the Orangerie, where the castle once stood.
Jacques Jallet took part in the French Revolution. As an elected representative of the clergy for Poitou, he responded to Louis XVI’s summons that convened the Estates General in Versailles in 1789. During this assembly of the three estates that represented all of the subjects in the kingdom (the clergy, the nobility and the third estate), he supported the lower level clergy before joining the third estate, which included all those who were neither clergy nor nobility. He voted in favour of transferring the Church’s goods to the State.
Jacques Jallet was born in La Mothe-Saint-Héray in 1732. He was soon chosen for the priesthood. Although he chose to study law in Poitiers, a romantic affair put an end to his career as a lawyer. In 1757, he was finally ordained as a priest. The French Revolution pushed him towards political militancy once and for all, campaigning against the death penalty and for priests to be allowed to marry. He died in 1791 following a stroke.
Father Jallet was depicted by the great artist Jacques-Louis David in the sketch for the painting The Tennis Court Oath, 20 June 1789, the ambitious final painting of which was never completed, due to the French Revolution.
A bust immortalising Father Jallet is also in La Mothe-Saint-Héray. It is located next to the Orangerie, where the castle once stood.
Jacques Jallet took part in the French Revolution. As an elected representative of the clergy for Poitou, he responded to Louis XVI’s summons that convened the Estates General in Versailles in 1789. During this assembly of the three estates that represented all of the subjects in the kingdom (the clergy, the nobility and the third estate), he supported the lower level clergy before joining the third estate, which included all those who were neither clergy nor nobility. He voted in favour of transferring the Church’s goods to the State.
Jacques Jallet was born in La Mothe-Saint-Héray in 1732. He was soon chosen for the priesthood. Although he chose to study law in Poitiers, a romantic affair put an end to his career as a lawyer. In 1757, he was finally ordained as a priest. The French Revolution pushed him towards political militancy once and for all, campaigning against the death penalty and for priests to be allowed to marry. He died in 1791 following a stroke.
Father Jallet was depicted by the great artist Jacques-Louis David in the sketch for the painting The Tennis Court Oath, 20 June 1789, the ambitious final painting of which was never completed, due to the French Revolution.
A bust immortalising Father Jallet is also in La Mothe-Saint-Héray. It is located next to the Orangerie, where the castle once stood.
