Mauron (; ) is a commune in the

Morbihan The Morbihan ( , ; ) is a departments of France, department in the administrative region of Brittany (administrative region), Brittany, situated in the northwest of France. It is named after the Gulf of Morbihan, Morbihan (''small sea'' in Breton ...

department and

Brittany Brittany ( ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the north-west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica in Roman Gaul. It became an Kingdom of Brittany, independent kingdom and then a Duch ...

region In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as areas, zones, lands or territories, are portions of the Earth's surface that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and ...

of north-western

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. It lies close to the borders of both Côtes d'Armor and

Ille-et-Vilaine Ille-et-Vilaine (; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Ill-e-Vilaenn'', ) is a departments of France, department of France, located in the regions of France, region of Brittany (administrative region), Brittany in the northwest of the country. It is named a ...

. Mauron's location make it a crossroads on the routes connecting

Dinan Dinan (; ) is a walled Brittany, Breton town and a commune in France, commune in the Côtes-d'Armor Departments of France, department in northwestern France. On 1 January 2018, the former commune of Léhon was merged into Dinan. Geography Inst ...

Vannes Vannes (; , , ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Departments of France, French department of Morbihan, Brittany (administrative region), Brittany, northwestern mainland France. It was founded over 2,000 years ago. History Celtic ...

and

Quimper Quimper (, ; ; or ) is a Communes of France, commune and Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Finistère Departments of France, department of Brittany (administrative region), Brittany in northwestern France. Administration Quimper is the ...

Rennes Rennes (; ; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Resnn''; ) is a city in the east of Brittany in Northwestern France at the confluence of the rivers Ille and Vilaine. Rennes is the prefecture of the Brittany (administrative region), Brittany Regions of F ...

History

Aerial archaeology Aerial archaeology is the study of archaeological sites from the air. It is a method of Archaeology, archaeological investigation that uses aerial photography, remote sensing, and other techniques to identify, record, and interpret archaeological ...

has revealed the existence of a large number of Gaulish farms, attesting to the agricultural wealth of the territory, which is traversed by the Roman road leading from Quimper to Rennes. Saint Judicaël founded a monastery in the area, at a place called Saint-Léry. The first historical mention of Mauron dates from 1152. In the eighteenth century, a fair was held here on 28 October each year, the feast of St Simon.

Battle of Mauron

On 14 August 1352 six hundred French Bretons (who supported King John II of France, the protector of Charles of Blois) under the leadership of the

marshal Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used fo ...

Offemont Offemont () is a commune in the Territoire de Belfort department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in northeastern France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas re ...

fought Anglo-Breton troops (supporting the Montfort side) which was led by Gaultier de Genteley (or Venteley, or Benteley). He was assisted by Tanguy du Chastel, Yves Trésiguidy and Garnier de Cadoual. The battle appears to have taken place near the village of Bois-de-la-Roche. The king's troops lost the battle, and many corpses were left on the field of battle, including those of the marshal of Offemont, the count of

Marche Marche ( ; ), in English sometimes referred to as the Marches ( ) from the Italian name of the region (Le Marche), is one of the Regions of Italy, twenty regions of Italy. The region is located in the Central Italy, central area of the country, ...

, the lords of Bricquebec and

Beauvais Beauvais ( , ; ) is a town and Communes of France, commune in northern France, and prefecture of the Oise Departments of France, département, in the Hauts-de-France Regions of France, region, north of Paris. The Communes of France, commune o ...

, Alain VII (11th viscount Rohan), Tinténiac, and a significant number of knights (around 140).

Population

In French the inhabitants of Mauron are known as ''Mauronnais''.

Breton language

In September 2019, 25 of the commune's 179 public primary school pupils were being educated bilingually.

Sites and Monuments

Religious

* The Church of St Peter. * The Monastery of l'Action de Grâces, founded by Virginie Danion, a native of Mauron, in 1869. A painting by Alphonse Le Hénaff can be seen in the chapel. * The 17th-century Chapel of St Anne in the village of Beuve, near the site of a château which was destroyed in 1676.

Civil

* Château de Boyer * Château du Ferron * Château de La Ville-Davy * Starting-point of the "Voie verte Mauron Questembert" (a footpath running from Mauron to Questembert): an idea formulated by the General Council of Morbihan and opened in 2002. It uses the ancient route of the railway line from La Brohinière to

Ploërmel Church Saint-Armel Ploërmel (; ; Gallo language: ''Pieurmè'') is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany, in north-western France. On 1 January 2019, the former commune Monterrein was merged into Ploërmel. Character of the town T ...

and then the Ploërmel to Questembert line.

Personalities connected to the commune

* The playwright Romain Weingarten (1926-2006) is buried in Mauron, to which he had retired in later life. * Virginie Danion, founder of the monastery of l'Action de Grâces and sister-in-law of the architect Sigismond Ropartz,

Twin towns

Mauron is twinned with the town of Newmarket in

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

References

External links

Official site
*
Patrimonial Encyclopaedia of the Community of Communes of Mauron in Brocéliande

Mayors of Morbihan Association
{{authority control Communes of Morbihan