During the early Middle Ages, Melle was an active center of minting, thanks to important silver mines located under and around the city. These were mined from 602 to at least 995. The mined ore was galena: lead containing silver. The lead served first of all to pay a tribute to the Frankish kings: under Dagobert I, eight thousand pounds were sent to Paris every year, where he served for the cover of the Basilica of St Denis. Under the reign of Charlemagne it was a mining centre and was, for a time, the home of the French mint: the Aachen penny of Charlemagne, the first coin of Charlemagne to be found at his capital of Aachen/Aix, was minted at Metullo. The silver mines which supplied the mint continued to function off and on before being forgotten altogether in the 18th century, not to be discovered again until the 20th century. The mine is now a tourist attraction and can be visited most days of the year. In the Middle Ages, Melle flourished as a town, as we can see from its surviving medieval houses and the three churches, built in the Romanesque style during the 11th and 12th centuries.
Sights
Melle is an ancient town which has traditional French architecture, some dating back before the 17th century. The silver mine in Melle is claimed to be the oldest silver mine in Europe still open to the public. The mine itself is some long, and visitors can explore 350 m of it, with guided tours each day. The church of Saint-Hilaire was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the World Heritage Sites of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France. Among other places to visit are the wash-houses and fountains of Melle. 400m from the church of Saint-Pierre is a small octagonal building with an arcade around its perimeter. There a fountain pours from the rock, into the basin where women gathered to do their washing. In the meadow nearby is a medieval fountain and basin, known as the Pré de la Maladerie, which was reserved for lepers. Melle also boasts a walk known as the Arboretum du Chemin de la Découverte. This walk passes more than 1000 species of trees and shrubs from the temperate areas of the world, and a collection of over 100 roses.
Melle today
Today, Melle is a vibrant small town. It is the major hub of business for the nearby towns of Saint-Léger, Chef-Boutonne, and Celles-sur-Belle and this is demonstrated by its business community and by the fact that it is home to the lycée for the region. Melle and the surrounding countryside is known for its own particular type of goat's cheese, 'chabichou'. Every Friday, a weekly market is being held on Place Bujault. The town is home a variety of traditional shops, as well as two large supermarkets and several restaurants.
