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]

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±% 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[6]

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.[7]

Main sights and notable buildings

  • Les Muséales de Tourouvre: this site houses two museums - The Museum of French Emigration to Canada and The Museum of Commerce and Brands[8]
  • Réserve Naturelle Régionale de la Clairière Forestière de Bresolettes: a 780 hectare local nature reserve.[9]

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.[10]
  • Bivilliers Church - 12th century church, added as a monument in 2006.[11]
  • Saint-Evroult Church - 11th century church, added as a monument in 1965.[12] 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.[12]
  • Notre-Dame Church - built in the Middle Ages, added as a monument in 1875.[13]
  • Bellegarde Manor - a 15th century manor house, added as a monument in 1978.[14]
  • 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

  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Arrêté préfectoral 21 December 2015 (in French)
  4. ^ "A Tourouvre, le label village étape c'est bon pour le tourisme". actu.fr. 24 September 2021.
  5. ^ "Tourouvre – Les Villages Étapes".
  6. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  7. ^ [1] 22 July 2019 (in French)
  8. ^ "Les muséales de Tourouvre, Tourouvre, autre - infos et adresse". leparisien.fr.
  9. ^ "Clairière forestière de Bresolettes | Reserves Naturelles de France". www.reserves-naturelles.org.
  10. ^ "Eglise à Tourouvre au Perche - PA00110991". monumentum.fr.
  11. ^ "Eglise à Tourouvre au Perche - PA61000051". monumentum.fr.
  12. ^ a b "Eglise à Tourouvre au Perche - PA00110768". monumentum.fr.
  13. ^ "Eglise Notre-Dame à Tourouvre au Perche - PA00110735". monumentum.fr.
  14. ^ "Manoir de Bellegarde à Tourouvre au Perche - PA00110962". monumentum.fr.