Sarthe () is a department of the French region of Pays de la Loire, and the province of Maine, situated in the Grand-Ouest of the country. It is named after the river Sarthe, which flows from east of Le Mans to just north of Angers. It had a population of 566,733 in 2023.
History In the late 18th century, before it was officially Sarthe, the nobility built their mansions and chateaux in this region, as an escape from Paris.
The department was created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790, pursuant to the law of 22 December 1789, starting from a part of the province of Maine. The latter was divided into two departments, Sarthe to the east and Mayenne to the west.
In Roman times, this province contained the city of Mans, and many of its ruins are still standing. The Roman Thermal Bathhouse attracts many tourists, as does the Theater of Aubigné-Racan, both located on the outskirts of Anjou, Maine, and Touraine.
Marin Mersenne, perhaps the most important scientific figure in the early 17th century, was born in the vicinity of Sarthe.
Geography The department of Sarthe is at the north end of the administrative region of Pays de la Loire. It is south of Normandy and on the southern edge of the Armorican Massif. It is bordered by the departments of Orne, Eure-et-Loir, Loir-et-Cher, Indre-et-Loire, Maine-et-Loire and Mayenne.
The arrival of the railways in 1854 boosted trade for the local economy. A TGV connection was constructed in 1989, connecting the community to high-speed transport. In terms of road connections, the A11 autoroute, which was constructed to Le Mans from the east in 1978, enhances Sarthe's strategic position as the gateway to the French west.
Principal towns The most populous commune is Le Mans, the prefecture. Approximately 370,000 people, comprising 65% of the department's population, live in the Le Mans urban area. The rest of the department retains a rural character, with agriculture as the chief part of the economy. As of 2023, there are 6 communes with more than 8,000 inhabitants:
Commune Population (2023) Le Mans146,249 La Flèche14,947 Sablé-sur-Sarthe12,326 Allonnes10,739 La Ferté-Bernard8,740 Coulaines8,121
Demographics Population development since 1801:
Politics
The department was the electoral base of former Prime Minister François Fillon, who since 2012 sits in the National Assembly of France for a constituency in central Paris. The president of the Departmental Council is Dominique Le Mèner, elected in 2015.
Presidential elections 2nd round ElectionWinning candidateParty%2nd place candidateParty% 2022 Emmanuel Macron LREM55.41 Marine Le Pen FN44.59 2017 Emmanuel Macron LREM63.33 Marine Le Pen FN36.67 2012 François Hollande PS52.67 Nicolas Sarkozy UMP47.33 2007 Nicolas Sarkozy UMP50.42 Ségolène Royal PS49.58 2002 Jacques Chirac RPR84.43 Jean-Marie Le Pen FN15.57 1995 Lionel Jospin PS50.79 Jacques Chirac RPR49.21
Current National Assembly Representatives
ConstituencyMemberParty Sarthe's 1st constituency Julie Delpech Renaissance Sarthe's 2nd constituency Marietta Karamanli Socialist Party Sarthe's 3rd constituency Éric Martineau MoDem Sarthe's 4th constituency Élise Leboucher La France Insoumise Sarthe's 5th constituency Jean-Carles Grelier Renaissance
Tourism
See also Arrondissements of the Sarthe department Cantons of the Sarthe department Circuit de la Sarthe (cycling), an annual road cycling race Circuit de la Sarthe, a motor racing track Communes of the Sarthe department History of Le Lude Gallo-Roman enclosure of Le Mans
References
External links
Prefecture Departmental Council Sarthe information