Clisson

Clisson

Église Notre Dame
Clisson
Administration
Country France
Region Pays de la Loire
Department Loire-Atlantique
Arrondissement Nantes
Canton Clisson
Intercommunality La Vallée de Clisson
Mayor Bernard Bourmaud
(2001–2008)
Statistics
Elevation 7–71 m (23–233 ft)
(avg. 27 m/89 ft)
Land area1 11.3 km2 (4.4 sq mi)
Population2 5,939  (1999)
 - Density 526 /km2 (1,360 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 44043/ 44190
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Clisson (Breton: Klison), is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique département in western France.

It is situated at the confluence of the Sèvre Nantaise and the Moine 17 miles (27 km) southeast of Nantes (reachable by rail).

The town and the celebrated family of Clisson, the most famous member of which was Olivier IV de Clisson, take their name from their stronghold. Clisson has its imposing ruins, parts of which date from the thirteenth century. The town and castle, the château de Clisson, were destroyed in 1792 and 1793 during the War in the Vendée.

Afterwards, the sculptor François-Frédéric Lemot bought the castle, and the town was rebuilt in the early part of the 19th century according to his plans. There are picturesque parks on the banks of the rivers. The Moine is crossed by an old Gothic bridge and by a fine modern viaduct.

The Hellfest music festival takes place outside of the town since 2006.

Clisson is twinned with Cowbridge, Wales, 7 miles (11 kilometres) from the capital city, Cardiff and with Alatri (Italy).

References

See also