Argentan

Argentan is a commune with 14,315 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Orne in Basse-Normandie region. It is the administrative seat for the district of Argentan and the cantons Argentan Argentan and Est -Ouest.

History

Colbert made ​​Argentan to the center of the lace-making, but also put it in competition with Alençon.

Argentan was bombed on June 5, 1944 with only the city area of ​​Saint -Martin was spared. As of 15 August, it was besieged by U.S. forces, and could be freed on August 20. The city was destroyed in the fighting to 80%.

Demographics

Attractions

  • The Donjon of Argentan, the rest of the city wall.
  • The medieval tour Marguerite, part of the fortification.
  • The ducal château from the 14th century, today the Palace of Justice.
  • The Chapel of Saint Nicolas, the former chapel of the Château; Built at the end of the 11th century by Peter II of Valois, Count of Alençon.
  • The house of the painter Fernand Léger
  • The church of Saint Martin (15th- 16th century)
  • The church of Saint Germain (15th- 18th century)
  • The Chapel of Saint Roch
  • The Racecourse of Argentan in Urou -et- Crennes

Twinning

  • Abingdon, England, since 1955
  • Baja, Hungary
  • Rotenburg an der Fulda, Germany

Personalities

  • François de Eude Mézeray (1610-1683), historian
  • Charlotte Corday (1768-1793), French aristocrat and murderer of Jean Paul Marat
  • Marie Bracquemond (1840-1916), painter
  • Vincent Muselli (1879-1956), poet
  • Fernand Léger (1881-1955), painter
  • André Mare (1885-1932), painter
  • Gérard Saint (1935-1960), cyclist - according to him the " Stade Gérard Saint " is named
  • Michel Onfray ( born 1959 ), philosopher
  • Tadeusz Tyc (* 1983), Franco- Polish footballer
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