Coutances

Coutances is a common French, located in the department of the Manche and the area Basse-Normandie. It is in particular known for its cathedral, its festival Jazz under the apple trees. Coutances is seat of évêché.

Geography

Coutances is located in the Péninsule of Cotentin, to 12 km of the west coast. The center of the city is located on a headland whose cathedral constitutes the culminating point. Downwards Drunk, tributary coastal river runs His. The topography of the city sometimes was worth the nickname of " to him; Tolède of Cotentin".

History

Chief town of the Celtic people of the Unelles, the city took the name of Constantia in 298 under Constance Chlorinates. The area of Constantia, known under the name of pagus Constantinus , became Cotentin.

Its first bishop was Saint Éreptiole.

The city is destroyed by the Normands in 866 and it is necessary to await the 11th century and the arrival of the bishop Geoffroy de Montbray, companion of William the Conqueror, to see it truly reappearing, with a new cathedral and foundations of religious communities. In 1204, the Normandy is taken again in hand by the king of France and the cathedral is rebuilt in the French style, under the impulse of the bishop Hugues de Morville (1208-1238), founder also of the hospital.

During the wars of religion, in 1562, the cathedral was plundered by the Huguenot S. They captured the bishop Arthur de Cossé and obliged it to traverse the city with back on an ass miter, the tail of the animal between the hands.

Until 1569, the bishop of Coutances exerted jurisdiction on the islands of the English Channel.

At the beginning of the 18th century, the baron Duhamel, mayor of the city and impassioned town planning, make bore the boulevards which unchoke the center town and create pleasant planted walks.

In 1944, the city is destroyed by a terrible bombardment which makes more than 300 dead. The architect as a chief in charge of the rebuilding, Louis Arretche (which also deals with Saint-Malo) will endeavor to give again his heart to him all while equipping it with the modern equipment.

Heraldic

Administration

Demography

Economy

August 1st The economy coutançaise is strongly turned towards the agro-alimentary one. The company Agrial is an Agricultural cooperative of national size of which part of the activities is based in Coutances. A dairy company manufactures inter alia the coutances, a cheese.

In the field of high technologies, elvia manufacturing printed circuits is established in Coutances.

Education

Coutances is one of the towns of France which counts the most school compared to its population. One counts as follows:

10 nursery schools and primary
3 colleges
5 colleges:

2 colleges of mainstream education
1 agricultural college
2 vocational schools

Personalities related to the commune

Charles François Lebrun (1739-1824) duke of Pleasure, born at Bouchelière, small village very close to Saint-Saver-Lendelin in the diocese of Coutances (Handle), he was third consul and prince-architrésorier of the First Empire. Its statue is not far from the cathedral with Coutances.
Robert Bichue (1705-1789), painter born and deceased in Coutances. It made its training in Paris and exerted its art in the portrait and the historical table. It was known in its time to have painted a sight representing the northern side of the cathedral of Coutances which it then made engrave on a copper board in 1747, work dedicated to Monseigneur de Matignon, bishop of the city and which remains today an invaluable testimony of the aspect of Coutances at the XVIIIe century.
Lycette Darsonval, dancer, born in the commune
François Feuardent (Coutances, 1539 - Paris, 1610), religious franciscain, one of the chiefs of the catholic League
François Gionnest (born in the commune at the 18th century, died with Caraquet). He was team member of the Capitaine Saint-Simon during the Bataille of Ristigouche and is one of the founders of the town of Caraquet.
Remy de Gourmont (1858 - 1915), writer.
Dominique Hervieu, born in 1963 with Coutances, dancer and choreographer of Contemporary dance.
Andre Lerond, international footballer, began his career with Coutances.
Jean-Matthieu-Adrien Lhermitte (also Jean Marthe Adrien like first name and Hermitte like name), known as the Brave man (September 29th 1766 with Coutances - August 28th 1826 with the Plessis-Picquet close to Paris) was against Admiral French.
Geoffroy de Montbray, bishop-warrior of Coutances, took part in the conquest Norman of England in 1066.
Fernand Foil (1883-1945), poet, who attended the College of Coutances.
Governed Messac (1893-1945), taught with the College of Coutances.

Tourist monuments and places

The country of Coutances is classified Pays of Art and History.

Cathedral of Coutances,
the Town hall installed in the hotel of Cussy containing a model to the 1/5 of a drakkar.
the Botanical garden.
the Quesnel-Morinière museum,
the Saint Nicolas's Day churches and Saint-Pierre.
College Charles-François Lebrun, first imperial college,
the medieval Park of the Bishop, old park of the bishop, with refrigerator, hunting preserve and ferruginous fountain….

Parks and green areas

The commune is a flowered city having obtained three flowers with the Concours of the cities and flowered villages.

The botanical garden is one of most remarkable of the area.

Events

Every year, the jazz festival Jazz under the apple trees, during the week of the Rise.
the Dutch singer Dick Annegarn devoted a song to the town of Coutances (published in 1975), and included in the original soundtrack of the Science of the dreams , in September 2006.

Twinnings

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References

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