Mortain

Mortain is a commune with 1698 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) in the department of Manche in Basse-Normandie region. It is the administrative center of the canton of Mortain and lies on the banks of the River Cance.

History

On 6 June 1944 (D -Day), the Allies landed in Normandy. The plan for Operation Overlord was based on from 1941, drawn up invasion plans.

Although the Allies had mobilized huge forces, they came forward at times slow. Cherbourg in the north of the Cotentin Peninsula fell on 26 June after heavy American artillery fire and fierce street battles ( Battle of Cherbourg ).

The Americans took on July 25, an attempt to break out of their bridgehead sector ( Operation Cobra ), which led in the following days in the west to the constriction of the Cotentin Peninsula to Avranches. To the east were quickly able to break through the German front U.S. units at Saint- Lô, after an initial delay. On 6 August, the Germans started taking the senior OB West, Field Marshal Günther von Kluge, a counter- attack at Mortain ( company Liège ). However, it was stopped after two days again, which eventually led to the Falaise pocket with the help of the north fighting the British and Canadians.

Culture and sights

Landmarks that have survived through the granite used in this former Norman fief centuries, are for example the famous Abbey White ( Abbaye Blanche ), as well as the Collegiate Church of St. Evroult. Other tourist attractions are the waterfalls Grande Cascade and Cascade Petite Petite Chapelle and the small chapel, from where you can have a look if the weather is up to 40 km Mont Saint Michel on the sea coast has.

Policy

Twinning

Mortain has since 1981 been twinned with Thannhausen in Bavaria ( Germany ). In the square of the partnership have peace doves go to this link.