Ville de La Machine

Coal was already being mined on this land in the 15th century. At that time there were only fields and forests but no village or dwelling.
La Machine is a recent commune which was built around the mines.
The kingdom of France was very dependent on the English under the reign of King Louis XIV for the supply of coal. In 1669, Colbert informed him of the presence of profitable coal in the Nivernais region, and he saw a way to become more autonomous and thus began the necessary steps for its exploitation.
The town takes its name from the first coal extraction machine installed in 1689 by the Belgian engineer Daniel Michel. It was a wooden carousel around which a horse turned. La Machine became a commune in 1790.
The town grew with the development of the mining activity and the arrival of new workers from the countryside, from other mining areas, but also from abroad (Poland, Italy, China...).

Today, with 3 343 inhabitants, La Machine has a rich historical mining heritage, although the last shaft closed in 1974. Pay attention because at every street corner, the mining past can be seen.
Its greatest ambassadors are the Musée de la Mine, the Puits des Glénons, the old mining towns and the slag heaps.

The hiking trails, the leisure centre with the Grenetier pond, an ideal place for swimming and fishing, make for a pleasant stay.

Two circuits "The city" and "The cities" allow you to discover all the aspects of this former mining city.

From Decize, you can reach the Grenetier pond and La Machine by the towpath of the Nivernais canal and the Fonds Judas cycle route.

Guided tours are organised in summer.