Tourouvre au Perche (French pronunciation: [tuʁuvʁ o pɛʁʃ]) is a commune in the department of Orne, northwestern France. The municipality was established on 1 January 2016 by merger of the former communes of Autheuil, Bivilliers, Bresolettes, Bubertré, Champs, Lignerolles, La Poterie-au-Perche, Prépotin, Randonnai and Tourouvre (the seat).[3]
The commune is listed as a Village étape.[4][5]
Geography
Tourouvre au Perche along with the communes of Feings, Longny les Villages, Le Mage, Moutiers-au-Perche and Charencey shares part of the Forets, etangs et tourbieres du Haut-Perche a Natura 2000 conservation site.[6] The site measures 3670 hectares and is home to fifteen species protected Flora and Fauna.[7]
In addition the Commune along with another 70 communes shares part of a 47,681 hectare, Natura 2000 conservation area, called the Forêts et étangs du Perche.[8]
Population
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 3,602 | — |
| 1975 | 4,020 | +1.58% |
| 1982 | 3,768 | −0.92% |
| 1990 | 3,377 | −1.36% |
| 1999 | 3,311 | −0.22% |
| 2007 | 3,361 | +0.19% |
| 2012 | 3,339 | −0.13% |
| 2017 | 3,127 | −1.30% |
| Source: INSEE[9] | ||
Points of interest
- Les Muséales de Tourouvre: this site houses two museums - The Museum of French Emigration to Canada and The Museum of Commerce and Brands[10]
- Réserve Naturelle Régionale de la Clairière Forestière de Bresolettes: a 780 hectare local nature reserve.[11]
Wattway
On 22 December 2016, the world's first solar-panel road - the Wattway on the RD5 road - was inaugurated. It was covered with 2,800 square meters of electricity-generating panels. The panels are covered with a resin containing fine sheets of silicon, making them tough enough to withstand all traffic. The project cost 5m Euros. On 22 July 2019 it was reported to be a colossal failure.[12]
National Heritage sites
The Commune has a total of 5 buildings and areas listed as a Monument historique.
- Tourouvre Church - 15th century church, added as a monument in 1991.[13]
- Bivilliers Church - 12th century church, added as a monument in 2006.[14]
- Saint-Evroult Church - 11th century church, added as a monument in 1965.[15] According to legend the church was built after Hugh the Great had pillaged the Abbey of Saint-Evroul in 944, when his jesters started mocking the holy objects they were struck by lightning, and the church built on the location of this event.[15]
- Notre-Dame Church - built in the Middle Ages, added as a monument in 1875.[16]
- Bellegarde Manor - a 15th century manor house, added as a monument in 1978.[17]
- La Gagnonniere - historical site that was once an inn run by Barnabé Gagnon. His 3 grandsons were recruited to help build New France, otherwise known as Quebec. Barnabé is the first recorded Gagnon ancestor.
See also
References
- ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
- ^ "Populations de référence 2022" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 19 December 2024.
- ^ Arrêté préfectoral 21 December 2015 (in French)
- ^ "A Tourouvre, le label village étape c'est bon pour le tourisme". actu.fr. 24 September 2021.
- ^ "Tourouvre – Les Villages Étapes".
- ^ "INPN - FSD Natura 2000 - FR2500106 - Forets, etangs et tourbieres du Haut-Perche - Description".
- ^ "Forêts, étangs et tourbières du Haut-Perche" (PDF). Ministère de la Transition écologique.
- ^ "INPN - FSD Natura 2000 - FR2512004 - Forêts et étangs du Perche - Description".
- ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
- ^ "Les muséales de Tourouvre, Tourouvre, autre - infos et adresse". leparisien.fr.
- ^ "Clairière forestière de Bresolettes | Reserves Naturelles de France". www.reserves-naturelles.org.
- ^ [1] 22 July 2019 (in French)
- ^ "Eglise à Tourouvre au Perche - PA00110991". monumentum.fr.
- ^ "Eglise à Tourouvre au Perche - PA61000051". monumentum.fr.
- ^ a b "Eglise à Tourouvre au Perche - PA00110768". monumentum.fr.
- ^ "Eglise Notre-Dame à Tourouvre au Perche - PA00110735". monumentum.fr.
- ^ "Manoir de Bellegarde à Tourouvre au Perche - PA00110962". monumentum.fr.
