Mayenne, Mayenne
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Mayenne |
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 Mayenne
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Location within Pays de la Loire region
Mayenne
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| Administration | |
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| Country | France |
| Region | Pays de la Loire |
| Department | Mayenne |
| Arrondissement | Mayenne |
| Canton | 2 cantons |
| Mayor | Michel Angot (2008–2014) |
| Statistics | |
| Elevation | 82–159 m (269–522 ft) (avg. 124 m or 407 ft) |
| Land area1 | 19.88 km2 (7.68 sq mi) |
| Population2 | 13,742 (2006) |
| - Density | 691 /km2 (1,790 /sq mi) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 53147/ 53100 |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
| 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
Coordinates: 48°18′43″N 0°37′06″W / 48.312°N 0.6183°W
Mayenne is a commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department. It is situated on the river Mayenne.
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[edit] History
In medieval times, the town was the seat of the Lords of Mayenne. The town originated when Juhel II of Mayenne built a monastery near the gate of the pre-existing castle, which led to the formation of the settlement.
Mayenne was besieged two times in 1574 and 1590, and suffered substantial damage. It was rebuilt and re-embellished in the following century thanks to the help of Cardinal Mazarin. It however suffered from plague in 1707.
On 9 June 1944, during World War II, it was bombed by English airplanes, which caused heavy damage and numerous casualties.
[edit] Main sights
- The Château, built in the 11th century over remains of a Carolingian edifice. It has five towers, only one of which has kept its original conical roof. The vaulted rooms and the chapel have 13th century decorations. Once used as a prison, since 2008 it is home to a museum.
- The Basilica of Notre-Dame, founded in 1100. Of the original building, the piers and the arcades of the nave remain.
- Romanesque church of St. Martin, enlarged in neo-medieval style during the 19th century.
[edit] Twin towns
Mayenne is twinned with:
Waiblingen, Germany, since the 1970s
Devizes, UK, since the 1970s
Jesi, Italy, since 2001
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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