Saint-Michel-en-l'Herm

Saint-Michel-en-l'Herm
The road into Saint-Michel en l'Herm
Saint-Michel-en-l'Herm
Location within Pays de la Loire region  Saint-Michel-en-l'Herm
Coordinates: 46°21′19″N 1°14′51″W / 46.3553°N 1.2475°WCoordinates: 46°21′19″N 1°14′51″W / 46.3553°N 1.2475°W
Country	France
Region	Pays de la Loire
Department	Vendée
Arrondissement	Fontenay-le-Comte
Canton	Luçon
Intercommunality	Pays né de la mer
Government
• Mayor (2008–2014)	Joël Bory
Area^1	54.8 km^2 (21.2 sq mi)
Population (2006)^2	2,051
• Density	37/km^2 (97/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
INSEE/Postal code	85255 / 85580
Elevation	1–17 m (3.3–55.8 ft)
^1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. ^2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Saint-Michel-en-l'Herm is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.

One of the most famous landmarks in this area is the Abbey of Saint-Michel-en-l'Herm. The history of the abbey traces back to 682 AD when it was constructed by the benedictine monks from Noirmoutier. In 1569, Protestants attacked the abbey and killed approximately 200 monks dwelling within the walls of this structure. The motives of the attack are still being debated, but one main theory is that the Protestants came to seek the treasure and manuscripts left hidden in the abbey by the Bishop of Luçon.

See also

• Communes of the Vendée department

References

• INSEE