Pouancé

Pouancé
The castle of Pouancé
Coat of arms
Location of Pouancé
Country	France
Region	Pays de la Loire
Department	Maine-et-Loire
Arrondissement	Segré
Canton	Pouancé
Intercommunality	Communauté de Commune de la région Pouancé-Combrée
Government
• Mayor (2008–2014)	Pierrick Esnault
Area 1	48.97 km2 (18.91 sq mi)
Population  (2006 estimate)	3,192
• Density	65/km2 (170/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	49248 /49420
Elevation	48–108 m (157–354 ft) (avg. 20 m or 66 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Pouancé is a commune in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France. It is located on the border of 4 French departements: the Maine-et-Loire where its belong, the Mayenne in the North, the Ille-et-Vilaine in the North-west, and the Loire-Atlantique in the West.

During the Middle-ages, Pouancé is at the border between Anjou, part of the Kingdom of France, and the independent duchy of Brittany. The city gained the nickname of "Door of Anjou, March of Brittany". Until now, the city keeps its partially preserved city walls, some of its city gates and its medieval castle, the second largest in Anjou.

History

The menhir of Pierrefrite is one of the only remains from the prehistory in Pouancé region, along with some stone axes and an arrowhead. The menhir is located on the border of the commune of Armaillé et Saint-Michel-et-Chanveaux. The menhir is made of red slate and is 5 meters tall.

After the discover of pieces of tegulae in a wood, it is supposed that a Roman kiln did exist, and along with it, a Gallo-Roman habitat.

The earlier place of settlement on the territory is supposed to be the village of Saint-Aubin, about one kilometre far from the center of Pouancé. In the walls of Saint-Aubin church (12th century) was found the remains of a Merovingian sarcophagus.

The first known lord of Pouancé was Manguinoë, from 990 to 1037. It is supposed that he built the first castle, in a motte-and-bailey style. For defensive reasons, the motte was built one kilometre from Saint-Aubin, on a slate hill. At the end of the 12th century, a medieval village grew up around, the first towers were built, and the village was fortified. The fortress complete, it counted 15 towers and 3 defensive walls.

During the reign of Charles V of France, a permanent tax, the gabelle, was established on the salt. The Anjou became a Pays de grandes gabelles, where tax was heaviest. Because Brittany was exempted of this tax, an important smuggle developed in the border of Anjou and Brittany. In 1343, a greniers à sel (salt granary) was established in Pouancé to store the salt and judge dispute on the tax. The smuggling was so important in Pouancé that a special jail for the faux-sauniers (name for the salt smugglers) was built.

During the Hundred Years' War, Pouancé has been besieged twice: the first time in 1432 by John VI, Duke of Brittany, allied with English and Scottish troops. The second time in 1443, by John Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset. But the city managed to resist every time, and the besiegers were forced to retreat.

During the 16th century, Pouancé was also famous in Anjou for its forges. The French royal navy command commission the forge for several thousand of round shots.

After the French revolution, Pouancé became the chef-lieu of a canton. The canton of Pouancé groups together 14 communes.

Toponymy

The etymology of Pouancé could come from the latin name, Potentius, derived from the latin potens (powerful). Others make its derived from the Celtic pouleum (a hill, or a butte). First mention of Pouancé dated from 1050, when the town is named Poenciacum and Pautiacum. As time goes by, Pouancé born the following name:

1070: Poenci 1080: Castellum Poenci 1090: Poenceiaco 1081-1105: Pontiacum 1078-1105: Poenceium 1132: Poencé 1180: Poentium

1190-1202: Poanci 1207: Pohencetum 1220: Castrum Pouencé 1680: Poencé 1715: Poancé 1720: Povencé 1725: Pouancé

Coat of arms

Coat of arms of Pouancé
Arms/Standard	Description
	Quarterly, first and fourth argent a pale vert, second and third vert a bend argent.
	Quarterly, first and fourth or a pale vert, second and third vert a bend or. This variant is the one actually used by the municipality of Pouancé.

Geography

Geology and hydrology

The river Semnon forms part of the commune's northern border along with the Araize.

The river Verzée flows southeastward through the southern part of the commune and crosses the town. It forms the lake of Saint-Aubin, then the lake of Pouancé just under the castle, and finally the lake of Tressé.

Climate

Month	Jan	Feb	March	Apr	May	June	July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high (°C)	7,9	9,2	12,6	15,3	19	22,6	24,9	24,7	21,8	17	11,4	8,4	16,2
Average low (°C)	2,1	2,2	3,9	5,6	8,9	11,8	13,6	13,4	11,3	8,4	4,6	2,8	7,4
Average temperatures (°C)	5	5,7	8,2	10.4	13,9	16,2	19,2	19,1	16,5	12,7	8	5,6	11,8
Months average of precipitations (mm)	62,1	50,8	51,7	44,6	54,4	41,2	43,8	44,9	52,2	59,6	64,5	63,4	633,4
Monthly length of sunlight (hours/month)	70	92	141	179	201	234	248	237	191	129	89	65	1877
Source : Climatologie de 1947 à 2008 - Angers, France

Demography

Evolution

Population numbers by year

1793	1800	1806	1821	1831	1836	1841	1846	1851
1,034	1,306	1,915	1,956	2,560	2,765	2,821	2,758	2,895
1856	1861	1866	1872	1876	1881	1886	1891	1896
3,001	3,227	3,266	3,273	3,390	3,346	3,502	3,508	3,355
1901	1906	1911	1921	1926	1931	1936	1946	1954
3,278	3,198	3,093	2,755	2,762	2,804	2,836	3,218	3,119
1962	1968	1975	1982	1990	1999	2006	-	-
3,094	3,017	3,165	3,299	3,279	3,307	3,192	-	-
Starting in 1962: Population with duplicates - Sources : Cassini et INSEE

Twin cities

• Şopotu Nou since 2007 (Website).

See also

• Communes of the Maine-et-Loire department