Tombe à la fille, Memorial tomb in Teillay Forest, France

Tombe à la fille is a grave in the Teillay woods, marked by a tall grey concrete cross on a rectangular base, about twice as tall as the base, with a small metal ornament at its centre. A green-painted metal box with a slanted lid stands against the base on the right, and a small white statue sits at the left front corner. Dark rectangular plaques and bunches of pink, yellow, red and white flowers lie on the gravel at the foot of the monument, with tree trunks and dense undergrowth behind.

Marie Martin, born in Tresbœuf and living in Teillay, was 17 to 19 when Chouans seized her at the start of Year IV (1795). A September 1795 report by the Directory's commissioner states they tortured her for three days, then hanged her from a tree in the Teillay forest, leaving only her chemise; she was cut down and buried at its foot. Accounts differ on her offence: revealing a Chouan hideout to Republicans from Bain-de-Bretagne, or refusing to do so.

Marie Martin is remembered as Sainte Pataude, from patao, the Gallo nickname Chouans gave Republicans. Pilgrims come especially at Easter and the Feast of St. John, and Saint Pataude is traditionally asked to help young children walk early. Small niches nailed to nearby oaks once held offered coins.

The tomb stands on the edge of the Grande Ligne, the road crossing the Teillay forest from north-east to south-west, about 700 metres from the junction with the D772. It lies in Teillay commune, close to the Aron stream that marks the border with Ruffigné in Loire-Atlantique. The gravel ground at the foot of the cross holds the plaques and flowers, so walk carefully around them.

Local legend holds that no axe can cut the oak tree to which Marie Martin was bound, and several oaks beside the tomb carry small nailed niches where visitors once left coins. Pilgrims still come especially at Easter and the Feast of St. John, and Saint Pataude is traditionally asked to help young children walk early.