Bellou-en-Houlme
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox French commune
|name = Bellou-en-Houlme
|commune status = Commune
|image = FranceNormandieBellouEnHoulmeEglise.jpg
|caption = The church in Bellou-en-Houlme
|image coat of arms =
|arrondissement = Argentan
|canton = La Ferté-Macé
|INSEE = 61040
|postal code = 61220
|term = 2020–2026
|intercommunality = CA Flers Agglo
|coordinates = {{coord|48.6914|-0.4422|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation m = 221
|elevation min m = 202
|elevation max m = 332
|area km2 = 38.73
|population = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
|population date = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
|population footnotes = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
}}
Bellou-en-Houlme is a commune in the Orne department in northwestern France.{{Cite web|url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/metadonnees/geographie/commune/61040-bellou-en-houlme|title=Commune de Bellou-en-Houlme (61040)|publisher=INSEE}}
Geography
The commune is made up of the following collection of villages and hamlets, La Forêterie,Laubesnière, Le Val du Breuil, La Longrais,Le Clos,Le Pont and Bellou-en-Houlme.{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/61220+Bellou-en-Houlme,+France/@48.691285,-0.4828327,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x48098990f3019bf9:0x4f22ba2b2a366aa3!8m2!3d48.690594!4d-0.441229!16s/m/03qcsbw?entry=ttu|title=Bellou-en-Houlme · 61220, France|website=Bellou-en-Houlme · 61220, France}}
There are 10 watercourses that traverse through the commune, two rivers The Val du Breuil, and The Gine, in addition to eight streams. The eight streams are the Laurenciere, the Roussieres, la Haie, the Grand Ros, La Prevostiere, the Loget, the Lange and La Source Philippe.
Bellou-en-Houlme also has the largest marsh in the Orne department, shared with Briouze at 167.41 Ha, called the Grand-Hazé.{{Cite web|url=https://inpn.mnhn.fr/site/natura2000/FR2500092|title=INPN - FSD Natura 2000 - FR2500092 - Marais du Grand Hazé - Description}}
{{Geographic location
| title = Neighbouring communes
|width=auto
|state=expanded
|Centre = Bellou-en-Houlme
|North = Durcet & Sainte-Opportune
|Northeast = Briouze
|East = Le Ménil-de-Briouze
|Southeast =
|South = La Coulonche
|Southwest = La Ferrière-aux-Étangs
|West = Saires-la-Verrerie
|Northwest = Landigou & Échalou
}}
Population
{{Historical populations
|source = INSEE[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/7633058?geo=COM-61040#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE
|percentages = pagr
|align = none
|1968 |1072
|1975 |926
|1982 |961
|1990 |912
|1999 |954
|2009 |1096
|2014 |1115
|2020 |1053
}}
Points of Interest
Grand-Hazé is a 500 acres of Marshland that has been under the protection of the Natura 2000 since 2002, that is shared with Briouze.{{Cite web|url=https://en.normandie-tourisme.fr/museums-and-heritage-sites/le-marais-du-grand-haze/|title=Le Marais du Grand-Hazé BRIOUZE : Normandy Tourism|website=Normandy Tourism, France}} The Marshland features Camargue horses and Highland cattle.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ornetourisme.com/visites-loisirs/le-marais-du-grand-haze/|title=Le Marais du Grand-Hazé - Patrimoine naturel - BRIOUZE|website=Orne Tourisme}}
=National heritage sites=
The Commune has one buildings listed as a Monument historique, which is the Château de Dieufit, a farm house built in 1862, and listed in 2012.{{cite web | url=https://monumentum.fr/monument-historique/pa61000062/bellou-en-houlme-chateau-de-dieufit | title=Château de Dieufit à Bellou-en-Houlme - PA61000062 }}
Notable People
- Foulques du Merle - (1239 - 1314) was Seigneur of Gacé and Bellou-en-Houlme, and Baron of Le Merlerault, Briouze and Messei.Louis de La Roque, Catalog historique des généraux français, connétables, maréchaux de France, lieutenants généraux, maréchaux de camp. Connétables et maréchaux de France depuis les premiers temps de la monarchie jusqu'à la fin du règne de Louis XIV (Paris, A. Desaide, 1896-1902), p.25.
Twin towns – sister cities
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in France}}
Bellou-en-Houlme is twinned with:{{Cite web|url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/normandie/24-jumelages-franco-allemands-dans-lorne-1506706|title=24 jumelages franco-allemands dans l'Orne|date=21 January 2013|website=Ouest-France.fr}}
- {{flagicon|GER}} Wehretal, Germany
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{commons category|Bellou-en-Houlme}}
{{Orne communes}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bellouenhoulme}}
Category:Natura 2000 in France
{{Argentan-geo-stub}}