Fresnay-sur-Sarthe

Fresnay -sur -Sarthe is a municipality with 2138 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in France. It is located in the department of Sarthe and in the Pays de la Loire.

Geography

Fresnay -sur -Sarthe is located about 30 km northwest of Le Mans and 15 km south-west of Alençon. It is, as the French place name already includes, at the Sarthe - a river that is 285 km long and is part of the river system in the Loire.

History

First documentary mention is Fresnay -sur -Sarthe on October 12, 997 as the site of the castle Fresnay. This was built in the 9th or 10th century and was used to ward Norman raids and securing of trade on the Sarthe. In the 11th century Fresnay formed the center of its own Vice- county, early 12th century fell Fresnay to the Viscount of Beaumont- sur -Sarthe and was incorporated in its vice- county. Also during the Hundred Years War, the castle played an important strategic role.

Demographics

The population development of Fresnay -sur -Sarthe shows a clear increase in the first half of the 19th century. Since then, the population has slowly declined. The lowest level was reached in 1931. After a significant increase in population in the 1960s and 1970s, the population has declined again in recent years.

Traffic

Fresnay -sur -Sarthe is located 6 km west of the main road E 402 ( N = 138) from Le Mans to Alencon and 17 km north-east of the main road 304 from Le Mans after Mayenne. The A81 motorway from Le Mans to Laval runs 24 km south.

Attractions

• Église Notre -Dame
• Musée des Coiffes

Twin Cities

• The town in Lower Saxony Bassum ( Diepholz ) has since 1972 an active partnership to Fresnay -sur- Sarthe.
• Since 1988, the English town of Spilsby ( Lincolnshire ) twinned.

Sons and daughters of the town

• Georges Durand (1864-1941), journalist and motor sports official