Fontenay - the Count is a common French, Sous-préfecture of the department of the the Vendée in the area Pays of the Loire. Its inhabitants is the Fontenaisiens .

Geography

Fontenay-the-Count is located in the flat of the South-Vendée, at the edge of the the Vendée which is an affluent of the Niort Sèvre.

History

The first settlements of the site of Fontenay-the-Count date from the Préhistoire and are undoubtedly explained by the presence of a ford allowing the crossing of the Vendée. A fountain, vital for the city, will give him its name. During the the Middle Ages, the city is strengthened by the counts de Poitiers which raise in the city a strong Château, in turn property of Mauléon and Lusignan.

In 1242, under the authority of Alphonse of Poitiers, Fontenay-the-Count becomes the capital of the Low-Poitou. She experiences an important economic development as of the Middle Ages thanks to the industry of cloth and leather. Tested by the English in 1361, then reconquered 11 years later by the French directed by Of Guesclin, the city is strongly shaken during the Guerre One hundred Year old. With the Rebirth, its fame is consolidated by the three annual royal fairs, moving merchants of all nationalities, then by a intellectual dimension such as François I {{er}} gives to the City its currency “  Fountain and spouting spring of Beautiful Esprits  ”.

The Renaissance is for Fontenay-the-Count one time of splendor with the construction of the most beautiful buildings of the ville : the castle of Newfoundland, private mansions and the emblem of the ville : the Fountain of the Four Tias. But Fontenay-the-Count, Protestant city, are besieged eight times during the wars of religion. One of these seats leads to the catch of the city the duke of Montpensier in 1575. Its castle is dismantled in 1621. At the 17th century, the economic decline starts and accelerates with the revocation of the edict of Nantes which ruins industries Protesting are city.

During the 18th century, the old city changes: work of town planning, creation of broad arteries, drain of the Vendée…

The French revolution mark a turning for the city. In 1790, Low-Poitou disappears with creation from the department from the the Vendée, whose Fontenay-the-Count becomes the Chef-lieu. In 1793, the Convention, wishing to make disappear any trace from the Old Mode, débaptise the city and re-elects it Fontenay-the-People. This same year, the Vendean ones take the weapons against the République. Fontenay-the-people, republican and chief town of the Vendée, are the target of the insurrectionists. It is taken the May 25th 1793, then abandoned three days later. Fontenay remains republican and constitutes a fulcrum of the republicans in the pacification of the Vendée.

In 1804, Napoleon I {{er}}, judging Fontenay too offset and wishing to pacify the the Vendée, transfers the prefecture from Fontenay to the Napoleon-Vendée (the Roche-sur-Yon). Fontenay-the-people become again Fontenay-the-Count. In 1812, the city becomes sub-prefecture of the the Vendée in the place of Montaigu.

Starting from second half of the 19th century, the economic revival which takes place leads Fontenay-the-Count to develop out of its walls. This expansion is confirmed by the rapid industrial growth known in the Années 1960.

Blasonnement

1°) Of sand, distinct of money; with a gold fountain stitching on the whole.
(Malta-Brown, illustrated France , volume V, 1884)

2°) Of azure, with a fountain with money basin, côtoyée of two unicorns upright of money summoned of gold, with a flower of lily as a chief.
(Malta-Brown, illustrated France , volume V, 1884)

3°) Of azure to the spouting out fountain of three silver coins to the built sand basin. (opposite)

(adoptee by deliberation of the municipal council in 1927)

Administration

Demography

Economy

The city has an antenna of the Chamber of commerce and industry of the Vendée.

Famous characters

• the writer François Rabelais
• the writer Nicolas Painter
• the Mathematician François Viète
• Andre Tiraqueau
• Pierre Brissot
• the Politician Michel Crépeau
• the General of Empire Augustin Daniel Belliard (1769--1832)
• Georges Simenon (lived with the New Ground Castle)
• Nicolas Savinaud football player of the FC Nantes Atlantique

Tourist monuments and places

Fontenay-the-Count is classified town of art and history and belonged to the association of Plus Beautiful Turnings of France. Flowered city, it was rewarded for 3 flowers () to the Concours for the cities and flowered villages (prize list 2007)).

The city received the National Price of Art of living (1996), and it obtained the price City of Light in 2002 rewarding its plan for architectural lighting of the historical center.

Principal monuments

• Fountain of the Four Tias (1542)
• Church S Notre-Dame and Midsummer's Day (15th century)
• Hotel (known as) of the Seneschalsy (1595)
• Private mansions
• Places and fountains of the 16th century and 17th century century
• Castle of New Ground (16th century)
• Museum of Fontenay

Twinnings

See too

• Common of the military Vendée

• Center of professional training

External bonds

• Official site of Fontenay-the-Count

• Fontenay-the-Count on the site of the national geographical Institute
• Fontenay-the-Count on the site of INSEE
• Fontenay-the-Count on the site of Quid
• Localization of Fontenay-the-Count on a chart of France and communes bordering
• Plane on Fontenay-the-Count on Mapquest

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