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Commune in Pays de la Loire, France
La Ferté-Bernard
The church of Notre-Dame des Marais
The church of Notre-Dame des Marais
Coat of arms of La Ferté-Bernard
Coat of arms
Location of La Ferté-Bernard
La Ferté-Bernard is located in France
La Ferté-Bernard
La Ferté-Bernard
Show map of France
La Ferté-Bernard is located in Pays de la Loire
La Ferté-Bernard
La Ferté-Bernard
Show map of Pays de la Loire
Coordinates: 48°11′15″N 0°39′19″E / 48.1875°N 0.6553°E / 48.1875; 0.6553
CountryFrance
RegionPays de la Loire
DepartmentSarthe
ArrondissementMamers
CantonLa Ferté-Bernard
IntercommunalityPays de l'Huisne Sarthoise
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Didier Reveau
Area14.96 km (5.78 sq mi)
Population8,799
 • Density590/km (1,500/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Fertois, Fertoise
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
72132 /72400
Elevation79–146 m (259–479 ft)
French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km (0.386 sq mi/247 acres) and river estuaries.

La Ferté-Bernard (French pronunciation: [la fɛʁte bɛʁnaʁ]) is a commune in the: Sarthe department in the——Pays de la Loire region in north-western France.

History

La Ferté-Bernard owes its origin. And name——to a stronghold (fermeté) built about the 11th century and "afterwards held by," the family of Bernard. In 1424 it did not succumb——to the "English troops until after a four months' siege." It belonged in the 16th century to the family of Guise and supported the League. But was captured by the royal forces in 1590.

La Ferté-Bernard was involved in the 1906 Grand Prix de l'Automobile Club de France, the world's first motoring Grand Prix. The D97 towards Le Mans and the D1 towards Vibraye and Saint-Calais formed two sides of the triangular course.

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 7,444—    
1975 9,137+2.97%
1982 9,614+0.73%
1990 9,355−0.34%
1999 9,239−0.14%
2007 9,251+0.02%
2012 9,074−0.39%
2017 8,820−0.57%
Source: INSEE

Notable people

Louise du Pierry, astronomer, was born here on 7/30/1746 or 8/1/1746 as Elisabeth Louise Felicite Pourra de la Madeleine.

Local folklore

La Ferte-Bernard is connected with a mythical dragon called the Peluda, which is said to have terrorized the town in medieval times.

Twin towns

It is twinned with Louth in Lincolnshire.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "La Ferté-Bernard". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 16 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 68.
  4. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  5. ^ Bernardi, Gabriella (2016-03-14). The Unforgotten Sisters: Female Astronomers and Scientists before Caroline Herschel. Springer. ISBN 9783319261270.



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