Mortagne-au-Perche () is a commune in the Orne department in Normandy, northwestern France. It is classed as a Petites Cités de Caractère.
Geography
The Commune is made up of the following collection of villages and hamlets, La Grippé, Mortagne-au-Perche, Loisé, Le Moulin du Pré and Le Tuilot.
La Chippe is a watercourse that traverses through the commune.
Heraldry
Population
Points of interest
Museums Musée percheron is a Museum of France showcasing local and national history. It also features a collection of medals created by Jules-Clément Chaplain.
National heritage sites
The Commune has seventeen buildings and areas listed as a Monument historique. Hôtel de Longueil a former 15th-century hotel, it was registered as a Monument historique in 1975. convent of the Poor Clares of Saint-François a former sixteenth-century convent, registered as a Monument historique in 1920. Saint-Nicolas hospital a former sixteenth-century hospital, registered as a Monument historique in 1997. Collegiate church of Toussaint a former thirteenth-century church served by a college of canons, registered as a Monument historique in 1972. Notre-Dame Church a fifteenth-century church, registered as a Monument historique in 1910. Saint-Germain-de-Loisé Church a fifteenth-century church, registered as a Monument historique in 1972. Hippodrome de Mortagne-au-Perche the three wooden grandstands at this racecourse are the oldest preserved examples in France; they were registered as a Monument historique in 1996. The stands are used Each year on the first Sunday in September, for the Orne departmental competition for conformation and gait of Percheron horses. Hôtel a former eighteenth-century building, it was registered as a monument in 1975. Hôtel de Fontenay an eighteenth-century hotel, still in operation, it was registered as a monument in 1975. Hotel des Tailles an eighteenth-century hotel, still in operation, it was registered as a monument in 1971. House of Henry IV a sixteenth-century house, that Henry IV visited in 1599, it was registered as a monument in 1979. Dean Toussaint House a fifteenth-century house built for the dean of the collegiate church, it was registered as a monument in 1975. The house of the Counts of Perche a seventeenth-century stately house built on the site of where the counts of Perche resided in the 12th century, it was registered as a monument in 1975. Birthplace of Alain a nineteenth-century house where the philosopher Alain was born, it was registered as a monument in 1995. Turret house a fifteenth-century house, with a Turret, it was registered as a monument in 1975. Porte Saint-Denis a twelfth-century door, revealing a Cart arch that was the entrance to Fort Toussaint, it was registered as a monument in 1975. Statue of Neptune' located in the garden of the town hall, this statue was created in 1866 by Emmanuel Frémiet. It was registered as a monument in 2006.
Notable people Marie of Armagnac (c. 1420–1473), duchess of Alençon, died here in 1473 Marin Boucher (1587 or 1589–1671) pioneer of early New France, one of the most prolific ancestors of French Canada was born here. Zacharie Cloutier (1590–1677), Québécois settler was born here. Pierre Boucher (1622–1717), City of Boucherville founder was born here. Gilles Hocquart (1694-1783), Intendant of New France was born here. Joseph-Geneviève de Puisaye (1755–1827), born in Mortagne-au-Perche, representative of the percheronne nobility in the Généraux States of Versailles of 1789 Achille Giroux (1694-1783), a French painter and lithographer was born here. Jules-Clément Chaplain (1839–1909), sculptor and medallist, was born here Ernest Granger (1844–1914), French politician, was born here Émile Chartier (1868–1951), philosopher and antimilitarist, born in Mortagne-au-Perche. Marie Glory (1905–2009), an actress was born here. Michel Fleury (1923–2002), historian, archivist and archaeologist, is buried here Jean-Pierre Grivois, writer and music scholar, born in Mortagne-au-Perche Jean-Claude Lenoir (born 1944), member of the National Assembly of France between 1993 and 2012, was born here
Sport
The commune has a swimming pool the Piscine intercommunale de Mortagne au Perche, which has been open since 2006. The pool features a 100 m² leisure area (pool, counter-current river, jets and massage bath), paddling pool and a 25 x 10 meter sports pool.
Twin towns – sister cities
Mortagne-au-Perche is twinned with: Wietmarschen, Germany since 1989 Boucherville, Canada since 1965 Mopti, Mali since 1975
See also Communes of the Orne department Perche
References