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The
8th floréal in the year II (April 27, 1794), a large group of
vendeen soldiers (approx 600) under the command of General Stofflet
invaded the village of Nueil sur Layon in search for food.
As they approached, the villagers left their homes to hide in
the neighboring woods. Twelve villagers, one of which was
the mayor, locked themselves in the church bell tower and
awaited the Vendéen troops with gunshots. The assaillants set
the church and the bell tower afire. After the ceasefire of
the night, the troops were chased away by the hussards of
Boucret. The mayor, the only hurt, died a few days later from
his wounds.
On the 5th of May 1895, on the "Place des Armes", in the center of the village, a" Monument to the 12 Courageous" was established in memory of that heroic defense of the town. This monument in honor of the Republic of France is in the form of a column and was realised by M. Moinet, a sculptor from Coron. Each year, on the Sunday following Easter, a celebration is organised in commemoration of that battle and is known as the "Festival of Quasimodo". |
