Pontivy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Commune of Pontivy |
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Pondi | ||
The Château des Rohan in Pontivy | ||
Location | ||
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Coordinates | ||
Administration | ||
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Country | France | |
Region | Bretagne | |
Department | Morbihan (sous-préfecture) | |
Arrondissement | Pontivy | |
Canton | Pontivy (chief town) | |
Intercommunality | C.C. Pontivy Communauté | |
Mayor | Jean-Pierre Le Roch (2001-2008) |
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Statistics | ||
Elevation | 48 m–192 m (avg. 60 m) |
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Land area¹ | 24.85 km² | |
Population² (1999) |
13,508 | |
- Density | 544/km² (1999) | |
Miscellaneous | ||
INSEE/Postal code | 56178/ 56300 | |
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. | ||
Pontivy (Breton: Pondi) is a commune of the département of Morbihan, in the région of Bretagne, at the confluence of the river Blavet and the Canal de Nantes à Brest.
Contents |
[edit] History
A monk called Ivy built a bridge nearby over the river Blavet in the 7th century, and the town is named after him ("pont" being the French for "bridge"). From November 9, 1804, the name was changed to Napoléonville after Napoléon Bonaparte, under whom it had around 3000 inhabitants. After his downfall, it was renamed Pontivy again, then later Bourbonville, and Napoléonville again after Napoléon III came to power.
[edit] Economy
This is a largely agricultural town.
[edit] Demographics
Inhabitants of Pontivy are called Pontivyens.
As of the census of 1999, the town has a population of 13,508.
[edit] Sights
- The castle of Rohan (with its moat) (late XVe).
- The Notre-Dame-de-Joie basilica. [Basilica:[1]
- The Saint Joseph church. [Eglise St. Joseph:[2]
[edit] Events
- Every year the final round of Kan ar Bobl, a Breton music competition.
[edit] Twinnings
The town maintains twinning links with:
- Tavistock in Great Britain since 1958
- Ouelessebougou, in Mali since 1986
- Wesseling, in Germany since 1972
- Napoléonville, in Louisiana since 1989
[edit] See also
[edit] Sources
Mayors of Morbihan Association (French); INSEE (English); IGN (English)
[edit] External links
- Official website (French)
- French Ministry of Culture list for Pontivy (French)
- Map of Pontivy on Michelin (English)