Hennebont

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Coordinates: 47°48′18″N 3°16′39″W / 47.805, -3.2775

Commune of Hennebont
Henbont
Location
Coordinates	47°48′18″N 3°16′39″W / 47.805, -3.2775
Administration
Country	France
Region	Bretagne
Department	Morbihan
Arrondissement	Lorient
Canton	Hennebont (chief town)
Intercommunality	Communauté d'agglomération du Pays de Lorient
Mayor	Gérard Perron (2001-2008)
Statistics
Elevation	0 m–82 m (avg. 5 m)
Land area¹	18.57 km²
Population² (1999)	13,412
- Density	722/km² (1999)
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code	56083/ 56700
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once.

Hennebont (Breton: Henbont) is a commune in western France (in the historic region of Brittany), in the Morbihan département.

Contents 1 Geography 2 History 3 Demographics 4 Twin towns 5 See also 6 External links 7 References

[edit] Geography

It is situated about ten miles from the mouth of the Blavet, which divides it into two parts: the Ville Close, the medieval walled town, and the 17th century Ville Neuve on the left bank and the oldest site: the Vieille Ville on the right. The old walled town (Ville Close) still has traces of its 13th-15th century ramparts as well as a large, fortified 15th century gatehouse complete with double-doors with drawbridge slots (known as the Porte du Broërec.)

[edit] History

Hennebont is famed for its resistance, under Joanna of Flanders, the widow of Jean de Montfort, to the armies of Philip of Valois and Charles of Blois when besieged in 1342 during the War of the Breton Succession.

In August 1944, a large section of the old walled town (ramparts, towers and medieval buildings) sustained major damage during the bombing of German positions entrenched in the downtown area.

[edit] Demographics

Inhabitants of Hennebont are called Hennebontais.

As of the census of 1999, the town has a population of 13,412.

[edit] Twin towns

Hennebont is twinned with:

• Kronach, Bavaria, Germany
• Mourdiah, Mali
• Mumbles, Wales, United Kingdom

[edit] See also

• Communes of the Morbihan department

[edit] External links

• French Ministry of Culture list for Hennebont (French)
• Map of Hennebont on Michelin (English)
• Pictures of Hennebont Basilica: [1], [2]

[edit] References

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.