Vannes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Commune of Vannes Image:Vannes Altstadt.jpg In the old town centre | |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | |
| Administration | |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Région | Bretagne |
| Département | Morbihan (préfecture) |
| Arrondissement | Vannes |
| Canton | Chief town of 3 cantons |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'Agglomération du Pays de Vannes |
| Mayor | Norbert Trochet (2001-2008) |
| Statistics | |
| Altitude | 0 m–56 m (avg. 22 m) |
| Land area¹ | 32.3 km² |
| Population² (1999) | 51,759 (Vannetais) |
| - Density (1999) | 1,602/km² |
| Miscellaneous | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 56260/ 56000 |
| 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: single count of residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel). | |
| Image:Flag of France.svg | |
Vannes (Breton: Gwened) is a town and commune located in the Morbihan département, in Brittany, in the west of France. It was founded more than 2000 years ago.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
Vannes is located along the Gulf of Morbihan, at the confluence of the Vannes River. It is a market town and often linked to the sea.
[edit] History
In ancient times, the people of Vannes resisted the Roman invasion under Julius Caesar quite successfully. In fact, these Armoricans were a model for the fractious tribe of the Astérix comic book series. They were great sailors, and whenever they were threatened, they took to the sea.
Caesar saw that he would have to dominate the water if he was ever to subdue them. He allied himself with the neighboring Namnete tribe (which gives its name to the city of Nantes) in order to gain the advantage.
The diocese of Vannes was erected in the 5th century. The Council of Vannes was held here in 461.
[edit] In fiction
In the novels of Alexandre Dumas, the musketeer Aramis appears at one point as bishop of Vannes.
[edit] Miscellaneous
[edit] Births
Vannes was the birthplace of:
- Francis I (1414-1450), duke of Brittany
- Paul César Helleu (1859-1927), artist
- Yves Rocard (1903-1992), physicist
- Alain Resnais (born 1922), film director
- Yves Coppens (born 1934), anthropologist
- Bernard Poignant (born 1945), French politician
- Mathieu Berson (born 1980), footballer
[edit] Sister cities
Vannes is paired with:
It has partnerships (partenariats) with:
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Official web site of the city
- Vannes travel guide from Wikitravel
- Visiting Vannes - in English
- Photos of Vannes in 3d (Anaglyphs)
- Diocese of Vannes
Overseas départements:
Cayenne (French Guiana) • Basse-Terre (Guadeloupe) • Fort-de-France (Martinique) • Saint-Denis (Réunion)
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