Tonnay-Charente

Tonnay -Charente is a commune with 7739 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Charente -Maritime in the Poitou -Charentes; it belongs to Arrondissement Rochefort and capital of the canton Tonnay- Charente.

Geography

The town lies on the north bank of the river Charente. Neighboring communities of Tonnay -Charente are Muron in the north, Genouillé in the northeast, Moragne and Lussant in the east, Cabariot in the Southeast, Saint- Hippolyte in the south, Rochefort on the west and Loire -les -Marais in the northwest.

Demographics

Attractions

  • Castle of the Dukes of Morte Mart, a collateral line of the house Rochechouart, today the Red Cross Sanatorium
  • Church of Saint- Étienne ( end of 11th century, rebuilding 1588/94 and in the 19th century)
  • Priory of Saint -Eloy de la Perrière
  • The wash house of Fontsèche

The Castle of the Dukes of Mortemart

The wash house of Fontsèche

Personalities

  • Marquise de Montespan (1640-1707), known before her marriage Mademoiselle de Tonnay -Charente
  • Charles Edward Jennings de Kilmaine (1751-1799), revolutionary general Irish descent, spent his youth in Tonnay -Charente
  • Louis Léon Jacob (1768-1854), admiral and politician, born in Tonnay -Charente
  • Ferdinand Joseph Arnodin (1845-1924), engineer, builder of the Charente- bridge in Tonnay -Charente
  • Fernand Gonder (1883-1969), pole vaulter and Olympic gold medalist (1906 ), died in Tonnay -Charente
  • Jean -Charles Descubes ( born 1940 ), Archbishop of Rouen, who was born in Tonnay -Charente

Twinning

  • Sandown, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom
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