Tourouvre au Perche
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox French commune
|name = Tourouvre au Perche
|commune status = Commune
|image = Mairie de Tourouvre-au-Perche.jpg
|caption = The town hall in Tourouvre au Perche
|arrondissement = Mortagne-au-Perche
|canton = Tourouvre au Perche
|INSEE = 61491
|postal code = 61190
|term = 2020–2026
|intercommunality = CC Hauts Perche
|coordinates = {{coord|48.590|0.652|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation m =
|elevation min m =
|elevation max m =
|area km2 = 93.76
|population = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
|population date = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
|population footnotes = {{France metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
}}
Tourouvre au Perche ({{IPA|fr|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).[https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/eli/arrete/2015/12/21/INTB1600629A/jo/texte Arrêté préfectoral] 21 December 2015 {{in lang|fr}}
The commune is listed as a Village étape.{{Cite web|url=https://actu.fr/normandie/tourouvre-au-perche_61491/tourisme-tourouvre-un-village-etape-ou-il-fait-bon-s-arreter_44513609.html|title=A Tourouvre, le label village étape c'est bon pour le tourisme|date=24 September 2021|website=actu.fr}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.village-etape.fr/villages-etapes/tourouvre/|title=Tourouvre – Les Villages Étapes}}
Geography
Tourouvre au Perche along with the communes of Feings, Longny les Villages, Le Mage, Moutiers-au-Perche and Charencey shares part of the Forets, etangs et tourbieres du Haut-Perche a Natura 2000 conservation site.{{Cite web|url=https://inpn.mnhn.fr/site/natura2000/FR2500106|title=INPN - FSD Natura 2000 - FR2500106 - Forets, etangs et tourbieres du Haut-Perche - Description}} The site measures 3670 hectares and is home to fifteen species protected Flora and Fauna.{{Cite web|url=https://www.donnees.normandie.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/pdf/N2000/FR2500106f.pdf |title=Forêts, étangs et tourbières du Haut-Perche| website=Ministère de la Transition écologique}}
In addition the Commune along with another 70 communes shares part of a 47,681 hectare, Natura 2000 conservation area, called the Forêts et étangs du Perche.{{Cite web|url=https://inpn.mnhn.fr/site/natura2000/FR2512004|title=INPN - FSD Natura 2000 - FR2512004 - Forêts et étangs du Perche - Description}}
The source of the river Avre is within this commune.{{sandre|id=H42-0400|nom=L'Avre}}
Population
{{Historical populations
|source = INSEE[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-61491#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE
|percentages = pagr
|align = none
|1968 |3602
|1975 |4020
|1982 |3768
|1990 |3377
|1999 |3311
|2007 |3361
|2012 |3339
|2017 |3127
}}
Points of interest
- Les Muséales de Tourouvre: this site houses two museums - The Museum of French Emigration to Canada and The Museum of Commerce and Brands{{Cite web|url=https://www.leparisien.fr/etudiant/sortir/li-les-museales-de-tourouvre-tourouvre/|title=Les muséales de Tourouvre, Tourouvre, autre - infos et adresse|website=leparisien.fr}}
- Réserve Naturelle Régionale de la Clairière Forestière de Bresolettes: a 780 hectare local nature reserve.{{Cite web|url=https://www.reserves-naturelles.org/clairiere-forestiere-de-bresolettes|title=Clairière forestière de Bresolettes | Reserves Naturelles de France|website=www.reserves-naturelles.org}}
= 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.[https://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2019/07/22/en-normandie-le-fiasco-de-la-plus-grande-route-solaire-du-monde_5492044_3244.html] 22 July 2019 {{in lang|fr}}
=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.{{Cite web|url=https://monumentum.fr/monument-historique/pa00110991/tourouvre-au-perche-eglise|title=Eglise à Tourouvre au Perche - PA00110991|website=monumentum.fr}}
- Bivilliers Church - 12th century church, added as a monument in 2006.{{Cite web|url=https://monumentum.fr/monument-historique/pa61000051/tourouvre-au-perche-eglise|title=Eglise à Tourouvre au Perche - PA61000051|website=monumentum.fr}}
- Saint-Evroult Church - 11th century church, added as a monument in 1965.{{Cite web|url=https://monumentum.fr/monument-historique/pa00110768/tourouvre-au-perche-eglise|title=Eglise à Tourouvre au Perche - PA00110768|website=monumentum.fr}} 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.
- Notre-Dame Church - built in the Middle Ages, added as a monument in 1875.{{Cite web|url=https://monumentum.fr/monument-historique/pa00110735/tourouvre-au-perche-eglise-notre-dame|title=Eglise Notre-Dame à Tourouvre au Perche - PA00110735|website=monumentum.fr}}
- Bellegarde Manor - a 15th century manor house, added as a monument in 1978.{{Cite web|url=https://monumentum.fr/monument-historique/pa00110962/tourouvre-au-perche-manoir-de-bellegarde|title=Manoir de Bellegarde à Tourouvre au Perche - PA00110962|website=monumentum.fr}}
- 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
{{commons category|Tourouvre au Perche}}
{{reflist}}
{{Orne communes}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tourouvreauperche}}
Category:Populated places established in 2016
Category:2016 establishments in France
Category:Ethnographic museums in France
Category:History museums in France
Category:Nature reserves in France
Category:Monuments historiques of Orne
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