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Commune of Marmande |
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| Location | |
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| Administration | |
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| Country | France |
| Region | Aquitaine |
| Department | Lot-et-Garonne (sous-préfecture) |
| Arrondissement | Marmande |
| Canton | Marmande |
| Mayor | Gérard Gouzes (2001-2008) |
| Statistics | |
| Elevation | m (avg.) |
| Land area¹ | 132 km² |
| Population² (1999) |
23,727 |
| - Density | 180/km² (1999) |
| Miscellaneous | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 470157/ 47200 |
| 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. | |
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Marmande is a commune of the Lot-et-Garonne département, in southwestern France.
Contents |
Geography
Marmande is located 35 m. NW. of Agen, on the Southern railway from Bordeaux to Sète. The town is situated at the confluence of the Trec with the Garonne on the right bank of the latter river, which is crossed at this point by a suspension bridge. It ranks 481st in terms of population for the whole of France. A noted producer of tomatoes, a festival dedicated to tomatoes is held annually in July.
History
Marmande was a bastide founded about 1195 on the site of a more ancient town by Richard Cœur de Lion, who granted it a liberal measure of self-government. Its position on the banks of the Garonne made it an important place of toll. It soon passed into the hands of the counts of Toulouse, and was three times besieged and taken during the Albigensian Crusade, its capture by Amaury de Montfort in 1219 being followed by a massacre of the inhabitants. It was united to the French crown under Louis IX. A short occupation by the English in 1447, an unsuccessful siege by Henry IV in 1577 and its resistance of a month to a division of Wellington's army in 1814, are some important events in its subsequent history.
Population in 1906: town: 6373; commune: 9748.
Sights
Apart from the administrative offices, the most notable building is the church of Notre-Dame, which dates from the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. The windows of the nave, the altarpiece of the 18th century, and in particular, the Renaissance cloister adjoining the south side, are some of its most interesting features.
Economy
According to the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1911):
- Among the industries are iron-founding, steam sawing, the manufacture of woollens, carriage-making, cooperage and brandy-distilling. There is a large trade in wine, plums, cattle, grain and other agricultural produce.
The town is renowned for its tomato production. The average income per household is 16,482 €/year.
Miscellaneous
Marmande was the birthplace of François Combefis (1605-1679), patrologist.
See also
References
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
External links
- (French)Official site of the mairie
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