Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei

Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei
region	Normandy
Department	Orne
Arrondissement	Alencon
Canton	Damigny
Community association	Alencon
Coordinates	48 ° 23 ′  N , 0 ° 3 ′  W Coordinates: 48 ° 23 ′  N , 0 ° 3 ′  W
height	115-193 m
surface	3.86 km 2
Residents	120 (January 1, 2017)
Population density	31 inhabitants / km 2
Post Code	61250
INSEE code	61372
Website	http://www.saintceneri.org/
The bridge over the Sarthe

Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei is a French commune of 120 inhabitants (at January 1, 2017) in the department of Orne in the region of Normandy ; it belongs to the arrondissement of Alençon and the canton of Damigny . Saint-Céneri is classified as one of the Plus beaux villages de France ( Most Beautiful Villages in France ).

geography

The village is located on a rock face made of granite in a meandering loop of the Sarthe between Alençon (12 km) and Le Mans (40 km). The parish is part of the Normandy-Maine Regional Nature Park .

history

In the 7th century, Saint Céneri founded an abbey here, which was destroyed by the Normans in 903 . Castle and church were built in the 11th and 13th centuries. The castle has been owned by the Giroie family for around 250 years .

Population development
year	1962	1968	1975	1982	1990	1999	2009
Residents	102	121	122	136	152	122	133

Attractions

Saint-Céneri chapel

• The single-nave Romanesque passage church Saint-Céneri (with three apses ) from the 11th century has been a monument historique since 1860 .
• The 15th century chapel of Saint-Céneri has also been declared a monument historique.
• The old stone bridge over the Sarthe

The idyllic place attracted many painters in the past, such as Camille Corot , Gustave Courbet and Léon Cogniet . Today the village is visited by many tourists.

Web links

Commons : Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei on Les plus Beaux Villages de France (French)