Argentan
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The Château of the dukes in the center of Argentan.
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 Argentan
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Location within Normandy region
Argentan
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| Coordinates: 48°45′N 0°01′W / 48.75°N 0.02°WCoordinates: 48°45′N 0°01′W / 48.75°N 0.02°W | ||
| Country | France | |
| Region | Normandy | |
| Department | Orne | |
| Arrondissement | Argentan | |
| Canton | 2 cantons | |
| Intercommunality | Pays d'Argentan | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor (2008–2014) | Pierre Pavis | |
| Area1 | 18.18 km2 (7.02 sq mi) | |
| Population (2012)2 | 14,219 | |
| • Density | 780/km2 (2,000/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 61006 / 61200 | |
| Elevation | 152–228 m (499–748 ft) | |
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1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. |
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1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
Argentan (French pronunciation: [aʁʒɑ̃tɑ̃]) is a commune and the seat of two cantons and of an arrondissement in the Orne department in northwestern France.
Argentan is located 180 km (110 mi) NE of Rennes, 131 km (81 mi) ENE of the Mont Saint-Michel, 188 km (117 mi) SE of Cherbourg, 58 km (36 mi) SSE of Caen, 133 km (83 mi) SW of Rouen and 100 km (62 mi) N of Le Mans.
Argentan is situated near the Orne River. Although the region was heavily populated during the Gallo Roman period the town is not mentioned until 1025–1026. The toponym comes from the Gaulois words, argentos (silver) and magos (market). The town grew in importance during the Middle Ages.
Following the Viking invasion on the coast of northern France, the north-western part of Neustria became Normandy (literally: Northman country). The Viking chief, Rollo, left the town to one of his lieutenants. Throughout the Middle Ages, Argentan was either a rich place or totally burnt. English forces occupied the city several times. The Plantagenet had considered this town as one of the most important of Normandy.
During the reign of Louis XIV, Colbert set Alençon against Argentan in an economic competition on lace making. Thus, the point d'Argentan ("Argentan stitch") and the point d'Alençon ("Alençon stitch") were created. Argentan became a very important town for traditional industry. It also gained in religious importance with the building of a Benedictine Abbey and two churches, Saint-Martin and Saint-Germain. Several mansions (hôtels particuliers) were also built.
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