Ferns

Fougères is a common French, located in the department of Ille-et-Vilaine and the area Brittany. Its inhabitants is called them Fougerais.

Ferns ( Breton Felger in and Foujerr in Gallo) is a Sous-préfecture located at the limit of the Brittany, Maine and Normandy and draws its name from the plant, or insane which means ditch (in Brittany and Normandy, a ditch is a ground terrace formed of the made excavations on each side of the bench, and being used as separation between two properties).

History

The presence of many monuments megalithic in particular in forest of Ferns leaves think that the area was already inhabited with the Neolithic era (2 000 to 5.000 years front J. - C.). The creation of Ferns goes back to the Moyen-âge. One finds the first mention of the castle of Ferns towards the end of the 10th century. It was at the time a simple fortification out of wooden located on a rock peak, whose position advantageously dominated the valley of the Nançon and the marshes surrounding. As from the 12th century, the population moves away from bank of Nançon and the city develops more in height, shared in two parishes: Saint-Sulpice for the low city and Saint-Léonard for the high city. As of the Middle Ages, the artisanal activity develops around the Tannerie, of the Tisserand S and the Drapier S in the low city.

Built at the 11th century by the lords of Ferns, the first fortification, defended by Raoul II (1130 - 1194), is taken by Henri II Plantagenêt in 1166 and is destroyed. Raoul II, stubborn, will make it rebuild in more imposing, and it will become a fortified town defending the borders of Brittany. However, the geographical position and the interests of the lords of Ferns often make them lean in favor of the kingdom of France. When Raoul III offers his possession to holy Louis, the Breton prince Pierre Mauclerc seizes the city in 1231, which will be then taken again by the king. The girl of Raoul III, Jeanne de Fougères, married to Hugues XII of Lusignan, will undertake new work of fortification and will embellish the city. The end of the 13th century will be one period of peace and prosperity for Fougères.

In 1307, Philippe Beautiful the repurchases the field but the kingdom of France is hardly interested in it and does not maintain it. After various combat and reversals of alliances, Bertrand of Guesclin penetrates in 1373 there, but the situation does not improve. Delivered to itself and victim of plundering, the population of Ferns requests assistance from the Duché of Brittany. It will return in its bosom in 1428, sold by Jean II of Alençon. But in 1449, called François de Surienne, a mercenary Aragonese with the service of the English, seizes some and puts it at bag, and this, with an aim of forcing the Brittany to be combined with the England. There will be many massacres, which causes the reaction of François Ier of Brittany, decided well to get rid of the English. The duke of Brittany is combined with Charles VII of France, tackles the south of the Normandy and puts the seat in front of Fougères. Surienne and its men manage however to resist and go under condition of being able to set out again free. This episode announces the Bataille of Formigny. Finally Trémoille, general French, seizes Ferns in 1488, at the time of the insane Guerre.

At the 16th century, the city loses its defensive role. The craft industry continues to develop, in particular the work of tin (street of Pinterie). During the wars of religion, the city remains catholic whereas Vitré is touched by the confrontations with the Huguenot S. Until 1775, Fougères will hardly any more make speak about it. The Marquis of Rouërie, a exalté young man, share then with the the United States to fight near the American insurrectionists. Of return in France, after being imprisoned for one month to have defended too much the Breton cause, it is accommodated as hero with the native land. At the time of the Revolution, the end of the rights of the province of Brittany, the Assermentation of the priests, the Levy in masse were the elements releases of a rebellion, the Chouannerie, whose Breton Conjuration of Rouërie was precursory. In 1793, during the Transfered of Galerne, the Chouan S and the Vendéens seize the city which is taken again a few weeks later by the republicans. During eight years, the city and its area pass with hand in hand, with the passage of many massacres and plunderings. The chief of the chouans of the surroundings of Ferns was the young general Aimé of Boisguy.

See also: Battle of Ferns

Industry replaces little by little the craft industry and Fougères sees the establishment of manufactures of shoes. At the winter 1906 - 1907 bursts a great strike of workmen in the factories of shoes fougeraises. In reaction, the owners organize a Lock-out. Solidarity is very strong in the city (“communist” soups to nourish the families of strikers without incomes) but also beyond: children are accommodated in families of Rennes and Parisian the time of the conflict. Jean Jaurès comes to Fougères to support the movement.

The glassmaking also exists in the area fougeraise since the arrival of Italian glass Masters in XVIe and 17th centuries. The installation of this industry in the Country of Ferns is explained by the presence of essential factors: a sandy ground (sand being the component main thing of glass), a forest (since the fusion of sand was obtained at high temperature) and finally of the fern (plant rich in soda). Thus, there existed already a glassmaking with the doors of the city (in Laignelet) which thrived at the 19th century. But, following the social claims of 1921, the religious trade unionism is mobilized, very social the Bridel abbot, founds a new glassmaking with Fougères: Fougeraise Crystal manufacture as well as a working city to place the personnel, built by the architect Hyacinthe Perrin, since 1922.

The 20th century is marked by the terrible bombardment américano-British of the June 9th 1944, which kills 300 people, wounds some twice more, and destroys the majority of public equipment and industrialists. Since, the city largely opened with tourism, thanks to its medieval castle and at its historical quarters. Starting from the Years 1970, industry diversified: agro-alimentary, furnishing, mechanics, glass, electronics, data processing and robotics. Ferns also organizes a significant market with the cattle.

Monuments

Ferns is classified town of art and history.

The castle

The Château of Ferns is one of most imposing French strong castles the, occupying a surface of two hectares. Composed of three enclosures, the ramparts are magnificiently preserved. If the home seigneurial is in ruin, the turns still rise with majesty. Some are worth visiting (turn of Hallay and turn of $the Hague Saint-Hilaire (12th century), turn Raoul (15th century), turn Mélusine). At the entry, one finds triple Moulin with water whose wheel still functions. The access to the western curtain makes it possible to observe the high city. ()

The belfry

It is the first with being built in Brittany, in 1397. It symbolizes the dynamism of a civil artisanal company in search of independence. Its architecture takes as a starting point the Flemish models that the clothiers of Ferns discovered at the time of their voyages in Flandres. On the bell the inscription is engraved: “In 1397 Bourges of Fougères made me and call me Roland Chapelle”.

The Notre-Dame door

This door of the 15th century (?) with a double drawbridge presents many defenses of which ditches, loopholes, machicolations, etc, and a protective virgin turned towards outside. It is the only strengthened door of the city which still remains.

The church Saint-Sulpice (15th century)

One finds represented on the external buttresses the seven deadly sins (pride, avarice, lust, greediness, desire, idleness and anger) and the fairy Mélusine.

The church Saint-Léonard (12th century-19th century)

Located on the hill opposite that of the castle, the first stone was posed at the 12th century. It was increased at the 19th century. Apparent style Gothic blazing.

Other

  • Abbey Saint-Pierre de Rillé.
  • Convent of the Town planners, transformed into arts center.
  • Many monuments megalithic in the sector of the forest of Ferns.

Administration

Twinnings

  • (German article on)
These two cities are also twinned between them since 1964.

Demography

Ferns is an industrial town and its typical demographic trends show it very well. At the end of the 19th century, Fougères sees its population increasing by 124% and passes from 9.344 inhabitants in 1856 to 20.952 in 1901, either a profit of population in less than 50 years of 11.608 people or more than the population of Vitré! The arrival of many industrial companies is the explanatory factor. Then Fougères evolves/moves little between 1901 and 1946, because of the economic crisis of 1929 then of the Second world war.

Economy

Ferns is the seat of the Chamber of commerce and industry of the country of Ferns.

Personalities related to the commune

  • Hardouin of Chartres, intellectual and Breton professor , directed a school there in XIe century.
  • François-Rene de Chateaubriand: it often comes to Fougères where one of his/her sisters lives. It does not have very a good memory of it:
  • : “In my sisters, the province was found in the middle of the fields. One was dancing of neighbors as neighbors, playing the comedy of which I was sometimes a bad actor. The winter, it was necessary to undergo in Fougères the company of a small town, the balls, the assemblies, the dinners. ”
  • Balzac: after having discovered Ferns in 1829, he will write the novel Chouans . (To read the novel on Wikisource)
  • Victor Hugo: after its stay in 1836, it will write the novel Quatre-vingt-treize .
  • Juliette Drouet: actress, mistress of Victor Hugo, born in Fougères in 1806.
  • Jean Guéhenno (1890-1978): journalist, writer.
  • Jean Baston of Riboisière (1759-1812): General and baron of empire, general inspector of the Artillery.
  • the Marquis of Rouërie (1751-1793).
  • Aime of Boisguy, (1776-1839), general Chouan.
  • Jean-Marie Bachelot of Pylaie, explorer and botanist.
  • Georges the Rumor, poet of Breton language born in Fougères in 1882.
  • Georges Franju, Realizer French.

Gallery of photographs of the city

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