CLISSON

clisson, a town of western france, in the department of loire-inferieure, prettily situated at the confluence of the sevre nantaise and the moine 17 m. s.e. of nantes by rail. pop. (1906) 2244. the town gave its name to the celebrated family of clisson, of which the most famous member was olivier de clisson. it has the imposing ruins of their stronghold, parts of which date from the 13th century. the town and castle were destroyed in 1792 and 1793 during the vendean wars. the sculptor f. f. lemont afterwards bought the castle, and the town was rebuilt in the early part of the 19th century according to his plans. there are picturesque parks on the banks of the rivers. the moine is crossed by an old gothic bridge and by a fine modern viaduct.