Argentan

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Argentan
Argentan Coat of Arms
Argentan (France)
Argentan
region Normandy
Department Orne
Arrondissement Argentan
Canton Argentan-1 (main town)
Argentan-2 (main town)
Community association Argentan Intercom
Coordinates 48 ° 45 ′  N , 0 ° 1 ′  W Coordinates: 48 ° 45 ′  N , 0 ° 1 ′  W
height 152-228 m
surface 18.18 km 2
Residents 13,823 (January 1, 2017)
Population density 760 inhabitants / km 2
Post Code 61200
INSEE code 61006
Website Argentan

Argentan - Ducal Castle

Argentan is a small town and a northern commune with 13,823 inhabitants (at January 1, 2017) in Orne in the region of Normandy .

location

The small town of Argentan is located on the north bank of the Orne at an altitude of approx. 165  m. The next largest city is Alençon, approx. 45 km (driving distance) to the southeast . The climate is strongly influenced by the sea and therefore almost frost-free; Rain (approx. 725 mm / year) falls throughout the year. Argentan is an access community associated with the Normandy-Maine Regional Nature Park .

Population development

year 1800 1851 1901 1954 1999 2015
Residents 5,618 5,673 6,291 8,339 16,596 13,769

The city's population growth in the 20th century is largely due to the mechanization of agriculture in the surrounding villages and communities and the resulting emigration.

economy

The town was a market place for the farmers in the area; craftsmen, traders and service providers of all kinds settled here. Today Argentan has about 20 doctors, a hospital, several primary and secondary schools. Smaller industrial companies have closed their doors in the last few decades, but the city is trying to find new settlements, which could be favored by the A88 autoroute , which was completed in 2010 .

history

Argentan was founded in a valley along the Orne . In ancient times the place was called Vagoritum and was the center of the Gallic Arvier . As a Gallo-Roman city, it gained increasing importance until the beginning of the Middle Ages . With the settling down of the Vikings , Argentan came to Normandy . Argentan suffered severely throughout the Middle Ages from the wars between England and France, in which it was conquered and destroyed several times. Colbert made Argentan the center of lace manufacture , putting it in competition with Alençon .

During the Battle of Britain was between July 1940 and March 1941, German Ju 88 of III. Group of Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 (III./St.G 77) on the Arpajon airfield . Argentan was bombed on June 5, 1944, with only the Saint-Martin district spared. From August 15, the city was besieged by US forces and could only be liberated on August 20; 80% of it was destroyed in the fighting.

Attractions

Saint Germain Church
  • Donjon of Argentan, remainder of the city walls
  • medieval tour Marguerite , part of the city fortifications
  • ducal castle (château) from the 14th century, today the Palace of Justice (Palais de Justice)
  • Chapel Saint Nicolas, former castle chapel of the Château
  • House of the painter Fernand Léger
  • Saint Martin Church (15th-16th centuries)
  • Saint Germain Church (15th-18th centuries)
  • Saint Roch Chapel
  • Museum of Lace (Musée des Dentelles)
  • Argentan Racecourse in Urou-et-Crennes

  • Donjon of Argentan

  • Tour Marguerite

  • Saint Martin Church

  • Saint-Nicolas chapel

  • Saint Roch chapel

  • Saint-Martin-des-Champs church

Personalities

Charlotte Corday

Town twinning

literature

  • Jean-Alexandre Germain: Histoire d'Argentan et de ses environs. Nabu-Press 2014, ISBN 978-0260101594

Web links

Commons : Argentan  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Argentan - Map with altitude information
  2. ↑ Argentan - climate tables