The silver mines
that once belonged to the kings of France

Just like Solomon, the kings of France were in possession of mines, and that is how lead and silver bestowed wealth on Melle over the first Christian centuries.

In our times, the mine roads no longer resound with instruments such as picks; they rather prompt us to remember the way things once were; the geology peculiar to the Melle country rendered it a major mining and monetary center in Charlemagne’s Europe.

The history of the Melle silver mines is singularly ancient. The mines were exploited from the 6th through the 10th centuries. Ore was extracted from the argentiferous gallery, and it enabled miners to obtain lead and silver. Archeological research has shown that from 602 through 995, mining operations proceeded.   

The lead was commonly used in roof covering, pipelines and dishware. Numismatic studies dealing with the history of coin manufacture have demonstrated that from 768 through 1189, silver coining facilities existed in Melle.