Benet, Vendée
| Benet | |
|---|---|
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The Church of Sainte-Eulalie, in Benet | |
  Benet | |
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Location within Pays de la Loire region  Benet | |
| Coordinates: 46°22′06″N 0°35′46″W / 46.3683°N 0.5961°WCoordinates: 46°22′06″N 0°35′46″W / 46.3683°N 0.5961°W | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Pays de la Loire |
| Department | Vendée |
| Arrondissement | Fontenay-le-Comte |
| Canton | Maillezais |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Daniel David |
| Area1 | 50.01 km2 (19.31 sq mi) |
| Population (2006)2 | 3,617 |
| • Density | 72/km2 (190/sq mi) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 85020 / 85490 |
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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. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
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Benet is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.
The former communes of Lesson, Sainte-Christine and Aziré were joined to the commune of Benet in 1973.
Geography
Close to Niort (7 miles) in Deux-Sèvres and Fontenay-le-Comte (12 miles) in Vendée, Benet is located near :
- South-Vendée
- Poitevin Marsh
- Atlantic Coast
The diversity of the landscapes, the limestone plain, along with the marshes of Sainte-Christine, Aziré and Nessier, make this commune a varied place, rich of its differences.
The Vrizon is the underground river that goes through the commune.
Benet is located close to the A83 and A10 motorways, connecting the commune to some major cities, as Nantes (81 miles), Poitiers (61 miles), Bordeaux (120 miles), or Paris (266 miles). Benet is also situated at 40 miles (64 km) from the touristical city of La Rochelle.
History
- Benet was formerly named Benet-les-Noyers.
- Former seat of a canton until 1801-1802, Benet has ultimately integrated the Canton of Maillezais.
- The communes of Lesson, Aziré and Sainte-Christine merged with the commune of Benet in 1973.
List of Mayors
| Period | Identity | Party |
|---|---|---|
| March 2001 - March 2008 | Daniel DAVID | Socialist Party |
| March 2008 - | Daniel DAVID | Socialist Party |
Demography
| Year | 1962 | 1968 | 1975 | 1982 | 1990 | 1999 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inhabitants | 2294 | 2583 | 2761 | 3062 | 3224 | 3202 | 3617 |
Monuments
The Sainte-Eulalie Church, on the historical register, constitutes an unmissable stage in the tour of the Romance Churches and Abbeys of the region.
A few miles away, it is possible to visit the historic site of the Maillezais Cathedral.
A wind farm was created near Lesson in 2007, and a second was established two miles (3 km) away from the first, several months later. A total of ten wind turbines overhang the commune.
Twin towns
Events
- Each first Sunday of July, the "Fête du Préfou" is organized in the harbor of Aziré.
- In November, is organized the traditional "Foire aux alouettes" (Lark Fair).
See also
References
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Benet. |
