LE VILLAGE D'ARTHON

Arthon is mentioned for the first time in the 11th century in the Redon cartulary as "In plebe quae vocatur Artum". The church, owned by a cleric, was given to the Abbey of Saint-Sauveur de Redon, a donation confirmed by the Pope in 1104. Artum is the earliest known form of the commune.

It should also be noted that the commune changed its name during the revolutionary period, temporarily becoming "Les Chaumes-de-Bec".

Prehistory
Cut flints and polished axes dating from the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods have been found in the Arthon area.

Antiquity
Two Gallo-Roman features have been unearthed: an aqueduct and a villa. The aqueduct, built in the 2nd century, was used to bring water from the Bonnet fountain to the town of Arthon-en-Retz, in particular to supply the thermal baths. It was identified in the 1840s. Archaeological excavations were carried out in 1995-1996, followed by surveys in 2009 and 2010. The large villa was found on what is now the presbytery garden.

Middle Ages
The parish of Arthon was created during the Carolingian era. A church was built at this time, under the patronage of Saint Martin de Tours. The castle and chapel of the seigneury of La Sicaudais were mentioned in 1119, attesting to the presence of the seigneury since the 12th century.

The modern period
In 1587, the lord of La Sicaudais, Aduheaulme de Chevigné, received Henri de Navarre, before he became king.

Contemporary period
The parish of La Sicaudais was created on 6 October 1843 by royal decree of Louis-Philippe and by episcopal decree of 4 January 1844. The current church was built between 1862 and 1885. The bell tower was built later, in 1892. At the same time as the church, work began on the town hall and school. During the Second World War, the village of La Sicaudais was part of the Pocket of Saint-Nazaire. A monument was created by Lieutenant Pollono on 21 December 1944. The railway station was bombed by the Germans on 26 December 1944. The La Sicaudais branch disappeared in the 2000s.

On 1 January 2016, the municipality of Chéméré joined with that of Arthon-en-Retz to form the new municipality of Chaumes-en-Retz.

Key dates in the history of the commune:
1587: Henry of Navarre visits the Lord of La Sicaudais
October 1843 - January 1844: Creation of a new parish in La Sicaudais
1853 : The cemetery is transferred to another site
1862: Start of construction of the new church and town hall/school
1887: Arthon becomes Arthon-en-Retz

Source : shpr.fr

Meaning of the Arthon coat of arms
Quarterly : on the first, azure a lime kiln argent masoned and open sable; on the second, gules an aqueduct or, on a chief argent three ermine spots sable; on the third, gules a sword in bend charged with a crozier in bar, all or, on a chief of the same charged with a cross sable; on the fourth, azure three merlons of salt argent, set 2 and 1.
Comments: The lime kiln is that of La Feuillardais, and the aqueduct is the Roman aqueduct of Arthon. The merlons are reminiscent of the salt marshes, and the sword and crosier are reminiscent of Saint Martin de Tours. On the third, the gold chief charged with a sable cross refers to the coat of arms of the Pays de Retz: gold with a sable cross, a reminder that Arthon-en-Retz belongs to this region. The ermine spots evoke the plain ermine coat of arms of Brittany, recalling the town's past membership of the Duchy of Brittany. Coat of arms designed by the parish priest in 1946.