Gouffern en Auge
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox French commune
|name = Gouffern en Auge
|commune status = Commune
| image = {{Photomontage
|photo1a=FranceNormandieAubryEnExmesChateau.jpg
|photo1b=Chateau Bourg St Leonard.jpg
|photo2a=Chambois 9.JPG
|photo2b=FranceNormandieExmesEglise.jpg
}}
|caption =
|image coat of arms =
|arrondissement = Argentan
|canton = Argentan-2
|INSEE = 61474
|postal code = 61160, 61200, 61310
|term = 2020–2026
|intercommunality = Terres d'Argentan Interco
|coordinates = {{coord|48.755|0.069|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation m =
|elevation min m =
|elevation max m =
|area km2 = 165.79
|population = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
|population date = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
|population footnotes = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
}}
Gouffern en Auge ({{IPA|fr|gufɛʁn ɑ̃.n‿oʒ}}, literally Gouffern in Auge) is a commune in the department of Orne, northwestern France. The municipality was established on 1 January 2017 by merger of the former communes of Silly-en-Gouffern (the seat), Aubry-en-Exmes, Avernes-sous-Exmes, Le Bourg-Saint-Léonard, Chambois, La Cochère, Courménil, Exmes, Fel, Omméel, Saint-Pierre-la-Rivière, Survie, Urou-et-Crennes and Villebadin.[https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/eli/arrete/2016/10/6/INTB1632827A/jo/texte Arrêté préfectoral] 6 October 2016 {{in lang|fr}}
Geography
The commune is made up of the following collection of villages and hamlets: Survie, Saint-Pierre-la-Rivière, La Frênée, Omméel, Avernes-sous-Exmes, Fel, Aubry-en-Exmes, Villebadin, Chantereine, Courménil, Fougy, La Bélière, Le Bourg, Exmes, Le Bourg-Saint-Léonard, Silly-en-Gouffern, Urou-et-Crennes, Cayenne, La Cochère and Gouffern en Auge.{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Gouffern+en+Auge,+France/@48.7851765,0.0302254,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x47e1ff3010b5f0bb:0xfc4bcf7bad1049d4!8m2!3d48.8052106!4d0.1055548!16s/g/11c6h0_13y?entry=ttu|title=Gouffern en Auge · France|website=Gouffern en Auge · France}}
The commune is part of the area known as Pays d'Auge.{{Cite web|url=https://en.normandie-tourisme.fr/museums-and-heritage-sites/le-coteau-de-la-butte/|title=Le Coteau de la Butte GOUFFERN EN AUGE : Normandy Tourism|website=Normandy Tourism, France}} Parts of the commune make up the area, the Plaine d'Argentan, which is known for its cereal growing fileds and horse stud farms.{{Cite web|url=https://www.donnees.normandie.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/pdf/UP/UP_304.pdf|title=Normandie Développement Durable}}
The Commune has three Natura 2000 protected areas which are shared with other communes the Bocages et vergers du sud Pays d'Auge, the Haute Vallée de la Touques et affluents and the Haute vallée de l'Orne et affluents.{{Cite web|url=https://inpn.mnhn.fr/site/natura2000/FR2500103|title=INPN - FSD Natura 2000 - FR2500103 - Haute Vallée de la Touques et affluents - Description|first=Museum national d'Histoire|last=naturelle|website=inpn.mnhn.fr}}{{Cite web|url=https://inpn.mnhn.fr/site/natura2000/FR2502014|title=INPN - FSD Natura 2000 - FR2502014 - Bocages et vergers du sud Pays d'Auge - Description|first=Museum national d'Histoire|last=naturelle|website=inpn.mnhn.fr}}{{Cite web|url=https://inpn.mnhn.fr/site/natura2000/FR2500099|title=INPN - FSD Natura 2000 - FR2500099 - Haute vallée de l'Orne et affluents - Description}}
Five rivers run through Gouffern en Auge: the Dives, the Dieuge, the Ure, the Vie and the Barges. In addition there are 20 streams that also traverse the commune:
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
- Roule-Crottes
- Etangs de Chagny
- Heude
- Pont aux Anes
- Rogneux
- Chedouit
- Costillets
- Fontaines Thiot
- Foulbec
- Noës
- Haies Cosnard
- Douaires
- Pont de Barges
- Querpont
- Val Roger
- l'Etang des Genets
- Courgeron
- Joncerai
- Moulin a Tan
- Mont-Ormel
{{div col end}}
{{Geographic location
| title= Neighbouring communes In addition to Le Pin-au-Haras which Gouffern en Auge completely surrounds
|width=auto
|state=expanded
|Centre = Gouffern en Auge
|North = Mont-Ormel & Coudehard & Saint-Lambert-sur-Dive
|Northeast = Aubry-le-Panthou & Champosoult
|East = Ménil-Hubert-en-Exmes & La Fresnaie-Fayel
|Southeast = Ginai & Croisilles
|South = Almenêches & Nonant-le-Pin
|Southwest = Argentan & Sai & Aunou-le-Faucon
|West = Occagnes & Bailleul & Villedieu-lès-Bailleul & Sévigny
|Northwest = Tournai-sur-Dive & Villedieu-lès-Bailleul
}}
Population
{{Historical populations
|source = INSEE[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-61474#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE
|percentages = pagr
|align = none
|1968 |4072
|1975 |3823
|1982 |3830
|1990 |3907
|1999 |3706
|2007 |3738
|2012 |3872
|2017 |3729
}}
Points of Interest
- Hippodrome du pays d'Argentan is a racecourse for horse racing, based in Urou-et-Crennes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/normandie/argentan-61200/gouffern-en-auge-le-quartier-de-l-hippodrome-havre-de-tranquillite-ae133daa-fdd8-11ec-badb-78a07154770b|title=Gouffern-en-Auge. Le quartier de l'hippodrome, havre de tranquillité|date=8 August 2022|website=Ouest-France.fr}}
- Forest of Gouffern is a 4120 Hectare Forest that is split into two parts by the River Ure, Petite Gouffern to the south of the river and Grande Gouffern to the North.{{Cite web|url=http://www.patrimoine-normand.com/article-149358-foret-de-gouffern.html|title=À la découverte de la forêt de Gouffern et de ses abords|website=www.patrimoine-normand.com}}
- Le coteau de la Butte is a Sensitive Natural Space of Orne, in Courménil.{{Cite web|url=http://cen-normandie.fr/projets-de-territoires/espaces-naturels-sensibles/espaces-naturels-sensibles-de-l-orne|title=Espaces Naturels Sensibles de l’Orne | Conservatoires d'espaces naturels de Normandie|website=cen-normandie.fr}} It is a 4 Hectare reserve, which you can observe its flagship species of Dactylorhiza viridis, Neotinea ustulata and Marsh fritillary.{{Cite web|url=http://cen-normandie.fr/sites-et-milieux-naturels/coteau-de-la-butte|title=COTEAU DE LA BUTTE | Conservatoires d'espaces naturels de Normandie|website=cen-normandie.fr}}
- Carrière de la Tourelle is a 2-hectare site in Aubry-en-Exmes classed as a Sensitive Natural Space of Orne. The site was created in 1987, and features fauna and flora such as dropwort, round-headed rampion and the Adonis blue butterfly.{{Cite web|url=https://www.affo-nature.org/autres-sites-naturels/|title=Autres sites naturels}}
=National heritage sites=
The commune has 12 buildings and areas listed as monument historiques
- Château du Bourg-Saint-Léonard, an 18th-century chateau listed as a monument in 1942{{Cite web|url=https://monumentum.fr/monument-historique/pa00110752/gouffern-en-auge-chateau|title=Château à Gouffern en Auge - PA00110752|website=monumentum.fr}} in 1954 it was bequeathed to the local municipality.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fondation-patrimoine.org/les-projets/communs-du-chateau-du-bourg-saint-leonard-gouffern-en-auge|title=Communs du Château du Bourg-Saint-Léonard à Gouffern en Auge|website=www.fondation-patrimoine.org}} The Chateau and its grounds are open to the public.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ornetourisme.com/visites-loisirs/chateau-du-bourg-saint-leonard/|title=Château du Bourg-Saint-Léonard - Châteaux, Haras - GOUFFERN EN AUGE|website=Orne Tourisme}}
- Donjon de Chambois, a former medieval dungeon built in the 12th century, by William de Mandeville.{{Cite web|url=https://www.historyhit.com/locations/chambois-castle/|title=Chambois Castle|website=History Hit}} It was registered as a monument historique in 1901.{{Cite web|url=https://monumentum.fr/monument-historique/pa00110764/gouffern-en-auge-chateau-fort|title=Château fort à Gouffern en Auge - PA00110764|website=monumentum.fr}}
- Château d'Exmes, the remains of a tenth-century castle listed as a monument in 1979{{Cite web|url=https://monumentum.fr/monument-historique/pa00110802/gouffern-en-auge-ancien-chateau-medieval-et-vestiges-qui-en-dependent|title=Ancien château médiéval et vestiges qui en dépendent à Gouffern en Auge - PA00110802|website=monumentum.fr}}
- Château de Villebadin, a 17th-century chateau listed as a monument in 1978{{Cite web|url=https://monumentum.fr/monument-historique/pa00110966/gouffern-en-auge-chateau|title=Château à Gouffern en Auge - PA00110966|website=monumentum.fr}}
- Château d’Aubry-en-Exmes, a 14th-century chateau listed as a monument in 1968{{Cite web|url=https://monumentum.fr/monument-historique/pa00110732/gouffern-en-auge-vieux-chateau|title=Vieux château à Gouffern en Auge - PA00110732|website=monumentum.fr}}
- Château de Courménil, an 18th-century chateau listed as a monument in 1991{{Cite web|url=https://monumentum.fr/monument-historique/pa00110995/gouffern-en-auge-chateau|title=Château à Gouffern en Auge - PA00110995|website=monumentum.fr}}
- Manor of Argentelles, a 15th-century manor house listed as a monument in 1926.{{Cite web|url=https://monumentum.fr/monument-historique/pa00110967/gouffern-en-auge-manoir-dargentelles|title=Manoir d'Argentelles à Gouffern en Auge - PA00110967|website=monumentum.fr}} Henry IV of France stayed here in 1591.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pop.culture.gouv.fr/notice/merimee/PA00110967|title=Manoir d'Argentelles|website=www.pop.culture.gouv.fr}}
- Chateau de la Roche, an 18th-century chateau listed as a monument in 1974.{{Cite web|url=https://monumentum.fr/monument-historique/pa00110777/gouffern-en-auge-chateau-de-la-roche|title=Château de la Roche à Gouffern en Auge - PA00110777|website=monumentum.fr}}
- Saint-André Church, an 11th-century church in Exmes listed as a monument in 1913{{Cite web|url=https://monumentum.fr/monument-historique/pa00110803/gouffern-en-auge-eglise-saint-andre|title=Eglise Saint-André à Gouffern en Auge - PA00110803|website=monumentum.fr}}
- Fougy Church, a 12th-century church in Le Bourg-Saint-Léonard listed as a monument in 1971{{Cite web|url=https://monumentum.fr/monument-historique/pa00110753/gouffern-en-auge-eglise-de-fougy|title=Eglise de Fougy à Gouffern en Auge - PA00110753|website=monumentum.fr}}
- Saint-Martins Church, 12th-century church, that apart from Sées Cathedral is the only stone spire to have been built before the 15th century in Orne.{{Cite web|url=https://monumentum.fr/monument-historique/pa00110765/gouffern-en-auge-eglise|title=Eglise à Gouffern en Auge - PA00110765|website=monumentum.fr}} Registered as a monument in 1914.
- Pierre Levée Menhir, a Neolithic Menhir that was classed as a Monument historique in 1889.{{Cite web|url=https://monumentum.fr/monument-historique/pa00110952/gouffern-en-auge-menhir-dit-la-pierre-levee|title=Menhir dit la Pierre Levée à Gouffern en Auge - PA00110952|website=monumentum.fr}}
File:FranceNormandieAubryEnExmesChateau.jpg|Aubry and Exmes Chateau
File:FranceNormandieAvernesSousExmesEglise.jpg|Avernes-sous-Exmes. Saint-Léger church
File:BourgStLeonard6.JPG|Bourg St Leonard
File:Chateau Bourg St Leonard.jpg|Chateau Bourg St Leonard
File:Chambois 9.JPG|Chambois
File:FranceNormandieLaCochereEglise.jpg|La Cochère. The Church of Saint-Sauveur
File:FranceNormandieCourmenilEglise.jpg|Courménil. Notre Dame Church
File:FranceNormandieExmesEglise.jpg|Exmes. Saint Andrew's Church
File:FranceNormandieFelEglise.jpg|Fel. Saint-Medard church
File:FranceNormandieOmmeelEglise.jpg|Omméel. Saint Peter's Church
File:FranceNormandieSaintPierreLaRiviereEglise.jpg|Saint-Pierre-la-Rivière. Saint Peter's Church
File:Chapelle Saint-Malo de Survie (Belhôtel).jpg|Saint-Malo chapel of Belhôtel, Survie
File:Église Saint-Martin de Survie (1).jpg| Church of Saint-Martin de Survie
File:Église Notre-Dame-des-Douleurs d'Urou-et-Crennes (Crennes) (1).jpg|Church of Our Lady of Sorrows of Urou-et-Crennes
File:Église Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité d'Urou-et-Crennes (Urou) (1).jpg|Church of Our Lady of the Nativity of Urou-et-Crennes
File:Manoir d'Argentelles Villebadin.JPG|Manor of Argentelles Villebadin
File:FranceNormandieVillebadinEglise.jpg|Villebadin. The Saint-Jean-Baptiste church
Notable people
- Opportuna of Montreuil (died 770), a Frankish Benedictine nun and abbess who was born here.{{Cite web|url=http://catholicsaints.mobi/calendar/22-april.htm|title=Calendar of Saints - 22 April|website=catholicsaints.mobi}}
- Herbert de Losinga (died 1119), the first Bishop of Norwich was born here.Doubleday and Page Houses of Benedictine monks: New Minster, or the Abbey of Hyde pp. 116–122
- François Le Prévost d'Exmes (1729-1793), a French writer, playwright and literary critic who was born here.{{Cite web|url=https://dictionnaire-journalistes.gazettes18e.fr/journaliste/499-francois-le-prevost-dexmes|title=Le Prévost D'exmes | Dictionnaire des journalistes|website=dictionnaire-journalistes.gazettes18e.fr}}
- Marie Louis Descorches (1749-1830), a French diplomat was born here.{{Cite web|url=http://shenandoahdavis.canalblog.com/archives/2020/08/26/38485588.html|title=Mesnil-Gonfroy - Survie (61) - Marie-Louis-Henri D'Eschorches, Marquis de Sainte-Croix, Préfet de La Drôme (1749–1830) - La Maraîchine Normande|date=August 26, 2020|website=shenandoahdavis.canalblog.com}}
- Martin-Guillaume Biennais (1764-1843), a French Gold and Silversmith was born here.{{Cite web|url=https://www.liechtensteincollections.at/en/artists/martin-guillaume-biennais|title=Martin-Guillaume Biennais|website=Liechtenstein. The Princely Collections, Vaduz–Vienna}}
- Victor Paysant (1841-1921) a priest who created The living and talking church of Ménil-Gondouin was born here.{{Cite web|url=https://www.normannia.info/ark:/86186/7pv17#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0|title=Le Journal d'Alençon et du département de l'Orne, numéro du 04 août 1921 · Normannia : le patrimoine écrit de Normandie}}
- Léon Bazalgette (1873-1928), a French literary critic, biographer and translator lived and was buried here.{{Cite web|url=https://maitron.fr/spip.php?article98629|title=BAZALGETTE Léon|first=Nicole|last=Racine|date=6 November 2022|publisher=Maitron/Editions de l'Atelier|via=Le Maitron}}{{Cite web|url=https://alencon.maville.com/actu/actudet_-avernes-sous-exmes-rendez-vous-au-moulin-des-noes-ce-dimanche_13-3058589_actu.Htm|title=Avernes-sous-Exmes: rendez-vous au Moulin des Noës ce dimanche|website=alencon.maville.com}}
See also
References
{{commons category|Gouffern en Auge}}
{{reflist}}
{{Orne communes}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Megalithic monuments in France
Category:Stone Age sites in France
Category:Monuments historiques of Orne