Saint-James (Saint-James)
| Saint-James | ||
|---|---|---|
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| local community | Saint-James | |
| region | Normandy | |
| Department | Some | |
| Arrondissement | Avranches | |
| Coordinates | 48 ° 31 ′ N , 1 ° 19 ′ W | |
| Post Code | 50240 | |
| Former INSEE code | 50487 | |
| Incorporation | January 1, 2017 | |
| status | Commune déléguée | |
Saint-James (French pronunciation: [sɛʒɑm]) is a village and a former French commune with 2,779 inhabitants (at January 1, 2017) in the Manche department in the region of Normandy . It belonged to the canton of Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët in the Arrondissement of Avranches .
With effect from January 1, 2017, the previous municipalities of Saint-James , Argouges , Carnet , La Croix-Avranchin , Montanel , Vergoncey and Villiers-le-Pré were merged to form the Commune nouvelle Saint-James of the same name . The former municipalities have the status of a Commune déléguée in the new municipality . The administrative headquarters are in Saint-James.
location
Saint-James is on the border between Normandy and Brittany , near Mont-Saint-Michel , on the banks of the Beuvron River . The A84 autoroute from Caen to Rennes passes Saint-James to the west.
history
Saint-James was founded by William the Conqueror . The place was on the Way of St. James , the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela . For centuries, Saint James was the center of wool processing.
During the Chouannerie , the struggle of loyal Catholics of Brittany against the First French Republic , two battles took place at St. James in 1795 and 1800 .
During the Second World War , the site was liberated from German occupation by American troops on August 1, 1944 as part of Operation Cobra .
Place names
Different place names existed over the centuries . In the Middle Ages the city was called Saint James de Beuvron and during the French Revolution it was called Beuvron-les-Monts .
Attractions
- The grooves of the megalithic culture of Saint-Benoît, recognized as a monument historique .
- The 13th century cemetery gate
- The 13th century church of Saint-Jacques with a triforium and a Romanesque portal. In the church there is a Madonna and Child from the 14th century .
- The 14th century church of Saint-Benoît .
- The 15th century castle of Paluelle and its park are classified as a monument .
- Traces of the former Saint-James castle can be found in the place la Haye de Terre .
The American War Cemetery
The American military cemetery ( World War II Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial ) is 2.4 kilometers southeast of Saint-James. 4410 American soldiers were buried here. The names of 498 missing persons can be read on one wall. The cemetery has an area of 28 acres (11.3 hectares ).
Personalities
- Louis Rabel (born February 6, 1922 in Huisnes-sur-Mer , † November 2, 1996), mayor of the French twin town of Saint-James. On March 12, 1987, he was made an honorary citizen of the German twin town of Erkelenz.
- Michel Thoury (born June 20 or July 1942 in Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët ; † February 17, 2015 on the Autoroute A84 near Pont-Farcy), a dentist by profession, was elected to the city council of Saint-James in 1977. He was mayor from 1983 to 2014. Michel Thoury was made an honorary citizen of the German twin town Erkelenz on July 12, 2004 .
literature
- Maria Meurer (adaptation): 40 years of town twinning 40 Éme Anniversaire Du Jumelage Saint James & Erkelenz, Erkelenz 2014, (German-French brochure)