Argentan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Argentan
Subprefecture and commune
The château of the dukes in the centre of Argentan
Coat of arms
Argentan Location in France Show map of France Argentan Location in Normandy Show map of Normandy
Country	France
Region	Normandy
Department	Orne
Arrondissement	Argentan
Canton	Argentan-1 Argentan-2
Intercommunality	Argentan Intercom
Area 1	18.18 km2 (7.02 sq mi)
Population  (2021)	13,291
• Density	731.08/km2 (1,893.5/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	61006 /61200
Elevation	152–228 m (499–748 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Argentan is a town in northwestern France. It is located in the Orne department. Argentan is an important center for its area. As of 2019, it was the third largest town in the Orne department by population.

History of Argentan

Argentan is located near the Orne River. People lived in this area a very long time ago. However, the town itself was first mentioned around the year 1025. Its name comes from old Gaulish words meaning "silver market." The town became very important during the Middle Ages.

During the Middle Ages, Argentan often faced good times and bad times. English forces took control of the city many times. The Plantagenet family, who were powerful rulers, thought Argentan was one of the most important towns in Normandy.

Later, during the time of King Louis XIV, there was a friendly competition. A minister named Colbert encouraged Argentan and another town, Alençon, to compete in making lace. This led to the creation of special lace styles, the point d'Argentan and the point d'Alençon. Argentan became a major center for traditional industries. It also grew in religious importance. A Benedictine Abbey and two churches, Saint-Martin and Saint-Germain, were built. Many fancy houses, called hôtels particuliers, were also constructed.

During World War I, a French army regiment was based in Argentan. They fought in the famous Battle of Verdun in 1916.

World War II brought great destruction to Argentan. On June 5, 1944, just before D-Day, the town was heavily bombed. The train station was destroyed. More bombs fell on June 6 and 7 from American planes. The worst damage happened in late August during the Battle of the Argentan-Falaise Pocket. American forces, led by General George S. Patton, fought hard for eight days. They liberated Argentan on August 20.

Geography of Argentan

The town of Argentan includes the main town and smaller villages. These villages are La Croix de Coulandon, Coulandon, and Mauvaisville.

Five water bodies flow through Argentan. These include three rivers: the Orne, the Ure, and the Baize. There are also two streams: the Marais de Fleuriel and the Fontaines Thiot.

Argentan is part of a large nature conservation area. This area is called the Haute vallée de l'Orne et affluents. It covers over 20,000 hectares and is protected under the Natura 2000 program.

Where is Argentan located?

Argentan is located in northwestern France. It is about 180 kilometers (112 miles) northeast of Rennes. It is also about 58 kilometers (36 miles) south-southeast of Caen.

You can travel to Argentan by train. The Argentan station has train connections to major cities. These include Caen, Le Mans, Paris, and Granville.

Neighbouring communes

		Sévigny	Gouffern en Auge
	Moulins-sur-Orne & Sarceaux		Sai
		Argentan
		Boischampré	Juvigny-sur-Orne

What is Argentan's climate like?

Argentan has a temperate oceanic climate. This means it has mild temperatures and rainfall throughout the year. It does not usually have extreme hot or cold weather.

Population of Argentan

The number of people living in Argentan has changed over time. Here is a look at the population from 1793 to 2017:

Main Sights and Buildings in Argentan

Argentan has many interesting old buildings and places to see. Some of them are:

• Donjon of Argentan - This is part of the old walls of Argentan. It was built in the Middle Ages by King Henry I. It became a protected historical monument in 1945.
• Tour Marguerite - This is a tower from the 12th century, also built by King Henry I. It was made a historical monument in 1965.
• Castle of the Dukes - This castle was built in the 14th century by Pierre II of Alençon. Today, it is used as a court house. It became a historical monument in 1889. Inside the castle grounds is the 14th-century St. Nicholas Chapel, which is also a protected monument.
• Saint Martin church - This church was built in the 16th century. It was listed as a historical monument in 1862.
• Saint Germain church - This church is from the 15th century and was listed as a historical monument in 1889.
• Saint Roch Chapel

National Heritage Sites in Argentan

Argentan has 18 buildings and areas that are protected as National Heritage Sites. Besides the ones mentioned above, some others include:

• Hotel du Moulin de Fontenelle - An 18th-century hotel.
• Former Hotel Servain - A 17th-century hotel, known for its old door.
• Henri IV House - Built in 1623, this house was once the town hall.
• Hôtel Ango-de-la-Motte - A former 17th-century hotel.
• Three Crosses Column - A column put up in 1771. It might mark a meeting of kings or a victory.
• Statue of the Virgin - A statue from 1648.
• Former residence of the Abbess of the Benedictines - Built in 1623, this was a home for nuns.
• Count of Lonlay - A former 17th-century hotel.
• Norman house - A house from the 14th century.
• Lemonnier house - Another 14th-century house.
• Aumont-de-la-Vente Hotel - A 17th-century hotel where James II of England stayed.
• Former church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Place - A 12th-century church that was later used as a house.

Museums in Argentan

• Maison Des Dentelles - This museum is all about Argentan lace.
• Museum of Fernand Léger – André Mare - This museum celebrates two important 20th-century artists, Fernand Léger and André Mare, who were from Argentan.

Other Interesting Places

• Les Pâtures d’Argentan - This is a 13-hectare nature site right in the middle of town. It is part of the Natura 2000 conservation area. It has a lake called La Noé. You can find protected animals here, like the Eurasian otter and the Southwestern water vole.
• Carrière de Belle-Eau - This used to be a sand quarry. It closed after World War II. In 1995, it became a nature reserve. It is now home to almost 200 different kinds of plants and animals. These include the Common parsley frog and the Smooth newt.

Notable People from Argentan

Many famous people have connections to Argentan:

• William FitzEmpress (1136 -1164) - The youngest son of Empress Matilda, a powerful historical figure, was born here.
• Giles d'Argentan (c. 1280 – 1314) - A Norman knight who fought in the Battle of Bannockburn.
• John II, Duke of Alençon (1409-1476) - A French nobleman and general who fought alongside Joan of Arc. He was born in Argentan.
• Margaret of Lorraine (1463 - 1521) - A French noblewoman and nun who was later recognized as a saint. She died here.
• Guillaume Mahot (1630 - 1684) - A religious leader who served as the Apostolic Vicar of Cochin. He was born here.
• Marguerite de Lubert (1702 - 1785) - A French writer who died here.
• Charles-Alexis Chauvet (1837 - 1871) - A French organist and composer who died here.
• Vincent Muselli (1879-1956) - A French writer and poet born here.
• Fernand Léger (1881–1955) - A famous painter born in Argentan.
• André Mare (1885–1935) - Another well-known painter born in Argentan.
• André Rouyer (1929-1994) - A French actor born here.
• François Doubin (1933 – 2019) - A French politician and government minister who lived and died here.
• Gérard Saint (1935-1960) - A bike racer who won an award in the 1959 Tour de France. He was born here.
• Richard Peduzzi (born 1945) - A French stage designer born here.
• Michel Onfray (born 1959) - A writer and philosopher born here.
• Franck Berrier (1984-2021) - A former professional football player born here.

Transport in Argentan

Argentan has several ways to get around and connect to other places:

• Argentan station - This train station connects Argentan to cities like Caen, Le Mans, Paris, and Granville.
• Aérodrome d'Argentan - This is a small airport that opened in 1946. Its code is LFAJ.
• Route nationale 26 - This is a main highway that connects Argentan to Verneuil-sur-Avre.

Twin Towns – Sister Cities

Argentan has special partnerships with other towns around the world. These are called twin towns or sister cities:

• Abingdon-on-Thames, England, United Kingdom
• Baja, Hungary
• Rotenburg an der Fulda, Germany

Images for kids

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  Heavy fighting in August 1944 left the town in ruins.

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  The SNCF train station in Argentan.

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  Chapel Saint Nicholas – built at the end of the 11th century

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  Hôtel du Moulin de Tercey, 2 rue Saint-Martin

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  Donjon of Argentan, built by Henry II of England

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  Saint Germain church (built 16th–18th centuries)

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  Tour Marguerite is the only surviving medieval tower

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  Saint Martin church, built in the 15th and 16th centuries

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  Hotel Joseph de Laleu 56 rue Saint Martin built in 1651

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  This hotel particulier was the Nicolas Ango house

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  The former abbey, now a restaurant

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  Château of the Dukes of Alençon (15th century), now the Court House

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  Birthplace of painter André Mare

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  Hôtel du comte de Lonlay

See also

In Spanish: Argentan para niños