Blain (Loire-Atlantique)

Blain
region	Pays de la Loire
Department	Loire-Atlantique
Arrondissement	Châteaubriant-Ancenis
Canton	Blain (main town)
Community association	Region de Blain
Coordinates	47 ° 29 ′ N , 1 ° 46 ′ W Coordinates: 47 ° 29 ′ N , 1 ° 46 ′ W
height	7-44 m
surface	101.72 km 2
Residents	9,793 (January 1, 2017)
Population density	96 inhabitants / km 2
Post Code	44130
INSEE code	44015
Website	www.ville-blain.fr

Blain is a French municipality with 9793 inhabitants (at January 1, 2017) in the department of Loire-Atlantique in the Region Pays de la Loire .

geography

Blain is located on the right bank of the canalized river Isac , which here forms part of the Canal de Nantes à Brest . Since the canal is only used for tourism today, the port of Blain is frequented by pleasure boats and houseboats . The right tributary Perche and the left tributary Plongeon also flow into the municipal area .

The city was a regional rail hub on the Sablé – Montoir-de-Bretagne railway ; here branches branched off to La-Chapelle-sur-Erdre (-Nantes) and Beslé (-Vannes).

history

Blain is a former Gallo-Roman city. Located in the middle of the Namneten land , Blain was the right place for the Romans to set up a military post in the conquered land.

Later the Franks also recognized the importance of this strategic location. But in contrast to the Romans, who preferred the overview points, they built a fortification on the banks of the Isac, which was known as Castrum Bableni . It was destroyed and rebuilt several times.

Nominoë , the Duke of Brittany , led a campaign of conquest against the Frankish Empire. At the Battle of Blain (843) the army of Nantes was defeated by the Frankish margrave Lambert, who was allied with Nominoë. As a result, the county of Nantes came under Breton rule.

From the middle of the 9th century onward, the Normans invaded and plundered and devastated the country. It was only around 100 years later that Alain II. Barbe-Torte succeeded in finally driving them out and bringing peace back to the cities and countries.

Ever since the Bretons seized the land, they took possession of the Blain fortification and installed one of their leaders there. At the beginning of the 12th century, Alain Fergent , Duke of Brittany, had the fortification of Blain expanded into a real castle and gave it to his vassal Guégon as a fief . The castle has been improved and rebuilt over the years, and the Clisson and Rohan families , who eventually took over ownership, also made their contribution.

Between 1622 and 1629 Henri II of Rohan fought against Louis XIII in the course of the Huguenot Wars . and was able to secure religious freedom at the end of the war. But Richelieu ordered the demolition of all his fortresses. Although the destruction in Blain was not fully carried out, the remaining part of the castle has lost its military role entirely. After a renovation, Blain Castle became a luxurious residence where the Rohan stayed regularly during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Personalities

Blain Harbor with Groulais Castle in the background

Saint-Émilien, soldier and bishop of Nantes (around 725)
Saint-Gohard (St. Gonthard) , Bishop of Nantes (835–843)

Attractions

Blain harbor on the Canal de Nantes à Brest
La Groulais Castle (see also: List of Monuments historiques in Blain (Loire-Atlantique) )
Saint-Roch Chapel (15th century)
Forêt du Gâvre (natural monument)
Forêt de la Groulais (Natural Monument)