The best walks and hikes around La Machine

The parents of the Mother of God MARY, whose birth this church celebrates as its patron, are the two saints Anne and Joachim. Thus, they are the grandparents of Jesus, but they are not mentioned by name in the biblical writings of the New Testament. An exact date in the historical-scientific sense is not known for the various stages in the life of the Mother of God. But the feast of the birth of the God-bearer – as one of the numerous honorary titles of Mary is – is celebrated on September 8th in many Christian denominations (Catholic, Anglican, Orthodox, and Armenian).

The Church of La Machine dates from the 19th century, it has a square bell tower. Its construction took place largely thanks to financing from the coal factory.

The Church of Saint Léger is placed under the name of Saint Léger des Vignes. it is a parish church of Saint Léger, it was built in the middle of the 19th century in the old stables of the Château de La Charbonnière. It is Gothic inspired, it is oriented north-south, with a cross plan. She owns two paintings by Olga Olby produced in 1951-1953, the Descent from the Cross, and the Crucifixion and Ascent to Calvary (1957). The porch bell tower is square and dates from the 19th century, it is pierced with simple bays on its four sides, its roof has a large spire covered with slates. The roof of the building is also made of slate. The body of the building is supported by numerous buttresses. On its facade above the porch a double bay lights the entrance, above these an oculus lights the attic. Its spire is covered with slates. The buttresses are prominent. Its apse is at the bottom of the oven. The entrance does not have an eardrum. Its windows are modern. The portal of the 19th century church of Saint-Léger-des-Vignes (1832-1833) is topped with twin windows decorated with stained glass. Saint-Léger-les-Vignes takes its name from the martyr bishop of Autun, Saint-Léger from the 7th century. Saint-Léger had his eyes gouged out by the mayor of the Ebroïn palace. The territory of Saint-Léger-les-Vignes was evangelized in the 8th century by the monks of Saint-Hermeland, who founded a leper colony there. Inside a group statue of Saint Anne and the Virgin, in polychrome stone, dated from the 16th century Classified MH (1974). The Altar is dated 1860.

Old railway line. Path in bucolic undergrowth.

Next to the path, you can observe the different rail technologies used on this disused track and transformed into a hiking path. The railway was used to transport the coal produced at La Machine.

5 rivers cross the city: 2 branches of the Loire, a tributary (the Aron) and two canals (Canal lateral à la Loire and Canal du Nivernais)

La Machine is a recent commune built around its coal mines. Although the last well closed in 1974, the city retains a rich heritage. Many shops are open there and recall this industrial past.

At La Machine, vestiges of the mining past are frequent. Here, an old mine recalls the coal mining that shaped the city over the last century.