town hall of Maché

The town hall of Maché serves as the seat of local government for the small commune of Maché, in the Vendée department, Pays de la Loire region, western France. It is the administrative heart of the village and a natural reference point for anyone wanting to understand how everyday life is organized in this part of rural France.

Where exactly is the town hall of Maché located?

The mairie stands at 1 rue du Calvaire (also listed as 2 Place de la Mairie), in the village with postal code 85190. Its coordinates are approximately 46.7546° N, -1.6855° E. Maché lies roughly 18 km southeast of Challans, the largest town in this part of the department, and borders the communes of Saint-Paul-Mont-Penit, Apremont, and Saint-Christophe-du-Ligneron.

How big is the commune of Maché?

The commune covers 18.1 km² and, according to the most recent available census (2007), had 1,831 inhabitants. That puts it firmly among the many small rural communes of the Vendée: a modest built-up centre surrounded by the bocage landscape typical of this part of France — a patchwork of hedgerows, small fields, and scattered farmhouses.

Who runs the commune, and how does local government work here?

The commune is led by mayor Frédéric Rager. Maché belongs to the Communauté de communes Vie et Boulogne, an intermunicipal body that pools resources with neighbouring villages for shared public services such as waste management and local development. The town hall is where residents handle civil registry matters, administrative paperwork, and day-to-day contact with the municipal council.

What does the administrative history of Maché look like?

The departmental archives of Vendée hold records of Maché's mayors and deputy mayors dating back to 1807, pointing to an unbroken line of local administration stretching back to the Napoleonic era. Parish-related archives also survive — covering the church (1827–1899), the presbytery (1858–1863), and the cemetery (1888–1910) — showing that for two centuries the commune's public life has revolved around the same core institutions: the church, the cemetery, and the town hall.

What should visitors know before stopping in Maché?

Maché works best as a gateway to rural Vendée, a department better known for its Atlantic coastline, sandy beaches, and quiet bocage countryside. The town hall itself is not a heritage monument in the classic sense, but as the administrative core of the commune it offers a clear picture of how small French villages function: modest architecture, strong local ties, and centuries of institutional continuity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the town hall of Maché located? At 1 rue du Calvaire (Place de la Mairie), 85190 Maché, in the Vendée department.

How many people live in Maché? According to the 2007 census, the commune had 1,831 inhabitants across 18.1 km².

Who is the current mayor of Maché? Frédéric Rager serves as mayor.

How do you get to Maché? The commune sits about 18 km southeast of Challans and borders Saint-Paul-Mont-Penit, Apremont, and Saint-Christophe-du-Ligneron.