Dangu, Eure
Dangu is a commune with 597 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Eure in the Haute-Normandie region. It belongs to the community association Gisors -Epte - Lévrière.
Geography
The village lies on the eastern edge of Eure, 6.6 km southwest of Gisors and 24 kilometers northeast of Vernon on orographic right bank of the River Epte.
History
Since the time of the Norman invasion Dangu was a strategic location from which the valley of the Epte could be controlled. William the Conqueror ( 1027/28-1087 ) entertained here an outpost on a moth with a garrison, commanded by Guillaume I. du Bec- Crespin. The moth was burned down in 1118 and then repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. Jacques II de Bourbon, comte de La Marche (1370-1438), who built a new castle and the moth was abandoned. Later, the town came into the possession of the Montmorency family. The last Seigneur of Dangu before the French Revolution (1789-1799) was Louis Auguste Le Tonnelier de Breteuil ( 1730-1807 ).
Attractions
The village is classified as a Site Inscrit ( cultural monument ). The church of Saint -Jean -Baptiste in Dangu was built in the 12th century. The walls of the nave are preserved. The spire was rebuilt in the 16th century. The stained glass windows date back to 1589. The church was built in 1913 as a monument historique classified ( historical monument ). During renovation work, discovered in the church behind a wood paneling a Litre funéraire ( mourning band) with three coats of arms. Two of the coat of arms are in good condition, their coats of arms are square and carry the rank of a marquis crown. They belong to the family Jubert de Bouville. The third crest is getting worse, but it is apparent that it was François -Henri de Montmorency -Luxembourg (1628-1695), the Dangu had in the second half of the 17th century.
The neoclassical ancien Chateau de Montretout (also: Nouveau Château ), which was built in the 18th century in Saint-Cloud, burned down during the siege of Paris ( 1870-1871 ). 1876, the castle was restored. In 1884, the Duc Pozzo di Borgo Dangu where there were remains of a medieval castle called Ancien Château ( old castle ). From 1896 to 1899 he transferred the remains of his castle Montretout after Dangu. The remains were assembled and called Nouveau Château ( new castle ). The garden designer Achille Duchêne (1866-1947) designed the park of the castle. It is entered in the additional list of Monuments historiques since 2005.
Economy
In the 19th century there were in Dangu a zinc foundry, a flour mill and two brickworks. There are also gloves, lace and tapestries made .
Frédéric de Lagrange (1815-1883) founded in 1857, the Haras de Dangu. The stud was in the 19th century as one of the best stud in France. Among his most successful horses belonged Rayon d' Or ( "Golden ray of light ").
Meanwhile, tourism has grown in importance, there are several chambre d' hôtes and a campsite.
The municipal area protected geographical indication ( PGI ) for Pork ( Porc de Normandie), poultry ( Volailles de Normandie) and cider ( Cidre de Normandie and cider normand ) apply.