Île Madame

Île Madame is an island in the River Charente estuary on the Atlantic coast of France joined to the mainland by a causeway. The island has an area of four square miles and is unpopulated.

Hundreds of Catholic priests were held prisoner on the island during anti-clerical persecution in 1794. A total of 254 died before the survivors were allowed to leave.

The priests who were held prisoner and those who died on the island are commemorated during a pilgrimage there each August.

Coordinates: 45°57′25″N 1°06′50″W / 45.95694°N 1.11389°W / 45.95694; -1.11389


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