5 August 2025

“Six exhausted housewives are pulling out all the stops to go on holiday.
19 May 1976 might just be their lucky day...”

Sophie Guy and her troupe, the ‘La Bouée’ collective, spent five days on a summer residency with us, which they rounded off with a dress rehearsal of their new play, ‘La Grille’, before setting off on their 2025 « Théâtre dans les jardins » tour.

A voluntary donation into the collection box of over €700 was much appreciated. The money raised was donated to the charity ‘AKIBA 86’ to support young girls in Cameroon.

24 October 2024

A stroll through the Mellois region

 In addition to providing advisory visits to support members and local authorities with their projects to restore historic buildings and preserve the countryside, (Free service for members), "MPF79" organises ‘Discovery’ field trips to showcase preserved heritage and raise awareness of restoration issues and techniques.

 After a visit to the the former priory of the Royal Abbey of Celles-sur-Belle, dating from the 14th century, in Saint-Martin-les-Melle; The Logis de Vezançais, a private property dating from the 14th and 15th centuries; A presentation of the church of Saint-Romans and old cemetery in Saint-Romans-lès-Melle by Mr Claude Luzan, a member of the association ‘Histoire, Mémoire et Patrimoine de Saint-Romans-les-Melle’, a large group visited us for a guided visit of the old church of Notre-Dame of Mazières the gardens with it's hydrolic system and the multi-hundred year old yew trees.

Here are a few photos : 

19/30 March 2024

In the run-up to the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the French Hiking Federation (FFRandonnée) has launched an exceptional event: "La Grande Randonnée vers Paris".

During a spontaneous visit on Tuesday 19th March the organisers of the stage Brioux-Melle asked if the walk planned for the 30th March to make a stop-over and visit the old archiprêtré de Melle. It was with pleasure that we agreed.

On Saturday, March 30, 3 groups and a total of 160 hikers paused for an agreeable moment in the cool of the old church of Notre-Dame and learned of it's history and that of the old archiprêtré de Melle.
[https://www.ffrandonnee.fr/grande-randonnee-vers-paris-itineraire-6-depuis-bordeaux]

Here are a few photos : 

1 August 2023

Les ateliers théätraux de Baird present 

At the beginning of August, the theater group began its tour in the gardens of the old archiprêtré.

Imagine a world where the worst behavior you can have is to forget your store loyalty card in your other trousers . . . . .
and chaos ensues

An adaptation of a comic strip by Fabcaro we followed Fabrice into the night in his attempts to escape justice.
Here are a few photos :

1 july 2023

An appeal for donations was launched on Saturday July 1, 2023 to support the restoration of a heritage site in Melle (Deux-Sèvres)

13 mai 2023

In 2022, the Groupe Ornithologique des Deux-Sèvres launched its own label: Espace Natur'Ailes® 

On May 13, 2023, following the general meeting of the Groupe Ornithologique des Deux-Sèvres - GODS - the 1.2 hectares of the archiprêtré de Melle were awarded the label, following a diagnosis based on a precise environmental study carried out by GODS experts.

We are both honored and grateful to them for their support in the choice of land management - towards a responsible approach to the development of bird life and the preservation of nature on the site.

13 mai 2023

In association with the association GRAINE Poitou-Charentes on May 13, the association APIEEE organizes in Saint-Romans les Melle and Mazières-sur-Béronne "Balades au Fil de l'Eau"
An interactive itinerary for all - to raise awareness of our local water resources!

Visit the Archiprêtré to discuss the importance of natural water for biodiversity and a balance in nature. File 2 not found (getFileFromId)

27 April 2023

We were "denounced" !

Our friend Sophie wrote (hand written) to Dorothée BARBA at France Inter.

Here is the excerpt from the transmission of 27th April (click her letter).

The full programme can be heard by clicking the image above.

17-18 September 2022

Activities and information concerning the management and protection of nature in relation to sustainable heritage issues

During the weekend the students in BTSA of the agricultural high school Jacques Bujault in Melle provided information on the management and development of the site in connection with maintaining sustainable heritage.