Le village du Pilon

La Croix de Sainte-Apolline

In the Middle Ages, pilgrims could stop off at the chapel dedicated to Saint Apolline. This virgin martyr of Alexandria, burnt alive in the 3rd century, was invoked by the faithful for toothache, probably because her jaw had been broken during her torture.

The chapel was located on the hillside near Le Tenu, at a junction of the old road (Roman road) and the present-day road leading to the village of Le Pilon. This road was much frequented by Breton pilgrims crossing the river. This old chapel was one of the stops on their way to the Tours road leading to Galicia.

In 1863, the Brillaud de Laujardière family decided to erect a cross at the top of the village of Pilon in memory of the former Sainte-Apolline chapel, which had disappeared, at the junction of the Cheix and Pellerin roads. The rogation processions used to stop here. The rogations correspond to the three days preceding the Ascension. Prayers, songs and processions were held to promote prosperity in the harvest.
Built of granite, the "Croix de Sainte Apolline" is the only stone calvary in Cheix-en-Retz. It was blessed on 17 May 1863. Its base bore the inscription, now difficult to read, "To the Glory of N.S.J.C [Our Lord Jesus Christ] and in honour of Saint Apolline - May 1863".

Pilon Bridge

Originally, the Pilon ferry was the only carriageway (link between a public road and private land) to get to the other side of the Acheneau, on the territory of Rouans or Port Saint-Père. This meant that the inhabitants of La Tancherie and the village of Cheix, whose marshes were on the other side of the river, had to transport their fodder by boat.
The village developed along the ancient Roman road leading from Le Pellerin to Bourgneuf.

It wasn't until the second half of the 19th century that the Pilon bridge was built, replacing the ford at the bottom of the village and providing a means of crossing the Tenu.
The bridge was built on the initiative of Comte Pelet de Lautrec (owner of Château de Briord, who also became mayor of Port-Saint-Père).
Studies began in 1863, following surveys carried out the previous year. Three designs were put forward, and it was the one opting for a stone bridge with three arches that was chosen, presumably to ensure better water flow.

For more information about the works :

It was decided to build the bridge over a diversion in the river, dug out on the bank of Port Saint-Père, some 80 metres from the old course.
Work began in 1865. Construction took four years.
The rubble came from the granite quarries of Nantes (Chantenay).
The final cost, calculated in 1869, was 62463 francs. The investment was to be amortised by maintaining a toll for 26 years.


At Le Pilon, the Tenu valley is narrower, making it an ideal location for water mills, which disrupted the flow of water for several centuries.