Usseau : berceau de la grand-mère de l’Europe

Usseau derives from "Ussena" meaning a hill planted with vines. The commune is composed of 5 hamlets nicknamed locally the "gaps". Located at the crossroads of an old Roman road leading from Saintes to Nantes, the village tells 2,000 years of local history at the Pierre-Henri Mitard cultural centre. Remains of several ancient sites have been revealed. Usseau is also the cradle of Eléonore Desmier, born in 1639 in Olbreuse and married to the Duke of Brunswick-Lunebourg-Zell, the elector of Hanover. Through the game of weddings, his descendants are present in 17 European dynasties, hence his nickname of "grandmother of Europe". Every two years, a summer show is organized in the courtyard of his castle to honour his memory. In 2019, Usseau joins forces with Priaires and Thorigny-s.-le-Mignon to form the new commune of Val-du-Mignon and becomes its capital.