Mantes-la-Jolie
Mantes- la -Jolie is a commune with 42 727 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the Yvelines department in the Île- de -France region; it is the administrative center for the district of Mantes- la -Jolie and Canton of Mantes- la- Jolie. Mantes- la -Jolie is part of the Communauté d' Intercommunalité agglomà de Mantes -en- Yvelines
Geography
Mantes- la -Jolie is a medium-size industrial city on the left bank of the Seine, 53 kilometers west of Paris.
The name " Mantes " comes from the Gallic: medunta, the oak. The suffix " la Jolie " ( "the beautiful" ) comes from a letter that King Henry IV wrote to his mistress Gabrielle d' Estrées, who resided in Mantes. The King wrote: "I come to Mantes, my beauty. "
The municipality is located in the center of an agglomeration of around 80,000 people. Neighboring municipalities are Mantes- la -Ville and Buchelay in the south, Rosny -sur -Seine in the West, and - separated by the Seine - Limay and Follainville - Dennemont in the north.
Mantes- la -Jolie is on the motorway ( A 13). Between Mantes- la -Jolie and Mantes- la -Ville flows into the river Vaucouleurs into the Seine.
The municipality has a station on the railway line between Paris and Le Havre. In Mantes also branches off from the railway line to Cherbourg.
History
Mantes was the Carolingian period a port on the Seine, which was soon attached to Normandy because of its strategic location near the border. Mantes thus served to protect Paris from enemy attacks along the river. The place was burned down in 1087 by William the Conqueror during his campaign in the Vexin. Louis VI. confessed to the place afterwards ( 1110) the status of a "free city " to. King Philip II Augustus died here on July 14, 1223rd During the fight with the British, the town changed frequently the Lord.
On the death of King Henry III. was Mantes on the part of the Catholic League, was conquered by Henry IV, who set up here overlooking the occupation of Paris his headquarters. Later he often came to Mantes to meet Gabrielle d' Estrées.
Originally called the place " Mante " from which end of the 18th century " Mantes " was, later, when the post office was established and confusion with Nantes had to be excluded, " Mantes -sur -Seine ". After the incorporation of Gassicourt in the west the city was called " Mantes- Gassicourt "; the present name dates from 1953.
Mantes is sub-prefecture of the department of Seine- et- Oise since 1800 to the establishment of the department of Yvelines, except from 1926 to 1943.
Attractions
- Collegiate Church of Notre Dame, 12th to 13th century, Monument historique since 1840;
- The tower of Saint -Maclou from the 16th century, the last remnant of a demolished church in 1806
- The Church of Sainte -Anne in Gassicourt, Romanesque church from the 11th century
- The old bridge of Limay, originally from the 12th century, originally Limay and Mantes union, but was demolished partially in the 18th century to build the " pont Peronnet " so that today only a few arches still survive; Monument historique since 1923 and painting by Jean -Baptiste Camille Corot ( " Le pont de Mantes " ), ( Musée du Louvre).
Twinning
Mantes is twinned with Hillingdon in England, with Maia in Portugal and with Schleswig in Germany.
Sons and daughters of the town
- Nicolas Bernier (* 1664, † 1734), Composer
- Sylvère Caffot (* 1903, † 1993), Composer
- Faudel (born 1978 ), musician and actor
- Charles III. (* 1361, † 1425), King of Navarre
- Michel Leclère (* 1946), race car driver
- Jean -Paul Mendy (born 1973 ), boxer
- Philip II (* 1165, † 1223 ), King of France
- Moussa Sow ( born 1986 ), Senegalese footballer