La Ferté-Bernard (French pronunciation: [la fɛʁte bɛʁnaʁ]) is a commune in the Sarthe department in the Pays de la Loire region in north-western France.

La Ferté-Bernard
The church of Notre-Dame des Marais
The church of Notre-Dame des Marais
Coat of arms of La Ferté-Bernard
Location of La Ferté-Bernard
Map
La Ferté-Bernard is located in France
La Ferté-Bernard
La Ferté-Bernard
La Ferté-Bernard is located in Pays de la Loire
La Ferté-Bernard
La Ferté-Bernard
Coordinates: 48°11′15″N 0°39′19″E / 48.1875°N 0.6553°E / 48.1875; 0.6553
CountryFrance
RegionPays de la Loire
DepartmentSarthe
ArrondissementMamers
CantonLa Ferté-Bernard
IntercommunalityPays de l'Huisne Sarthoise
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Didier Reveau[1]
Area
1
14.96 km2 (5.78 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
8,799
 • Density590/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Fertois, Fertoise
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
72132 /72400
Elevation79–146 m (259–479 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

History

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La Ferté-Bernard owes its origin and name to a stronghold (fermeté) built about the 11th century and afterwards held by the family of Bernard. In 1424 it did not succumb to the English troops until after a four months' siege. It belonged in the 16th century to the family of Guise and supported the League, but was captured by the royal forces in 1590.[3]

La Ferté-Bernard was involved in the 1906 Grand Prix de l'Automobile Club de France, the world's first motoring Grand Prix. The D97 towards Le Mans and the D1 towards Vibraye and Saint-Calais formed two sides of the triangular course.

Population

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 7,444—    
1975 9,137+2.97%
1982 9,614+0.73%
1990 9,355−0.34%
1999 9,239−0.14%
2007 9,251+0.02%
2012 9,074−0.39%
2017 8,820−0.57%
Source: INSEE[4]

Notable people

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Louise du Pierry, astronomer, was born here[5] on 7/30/1746 or 8/1/1746 as Elisabeth Louise Felicite Pourra de la Madeleine.

Local folklore

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La Ferte-Bernard is connected with a mythical dragon called the Peluda, which is said to have terrorized the town in medieval times.

Twin towns

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It is twinned with Louth in Lincolnshire.

Climate

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Climate data for La Ferté-Bernard (Cormes) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1985–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 16.5
(61.7)
22.5
(72.5)
25.0
(77.0)
30.0
(86.0)
33.0
(91.4)
38.3
(100.9)
42.8
(109.0)
42.0
(107.6)
35.5
(95.9)
29.8
(85.6)
21.8
(71.2)
16.5
(61.7)
42.8
(109.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 7.3
(45.1)
9.0
(48.2)
12.8
(55.0)
16.3
(61.3)
19.8
(67.6)
23.3
(73.9)
25.8
(78.4)
25.7
(78.3)
21.9
(71.4)
16.5
(61.7)
11.0
(51.8)
7.7
(45.9)
16.4
(61.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) 4.5
(40.1)
5.0
(41.0)
7.8
(46.0)
10.3
(50.5)
13.8
(56.8)
17.2
(63.0)
19.2
(66.6)
19.1
(66.4)
15.8
(60.4)
12.1
(53.8)
7.6
(45.7)
4.9
(40.8)
11.4
(52.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 1.7
(35.1)
1.1
(34.0)
2.7
(36.9)
4.2
(39.6)
7.9
(46.2)
11.0
(51.8)
12.6
(54.7)
12.6
(54.7)
9.8
(49.6)
7.7
(45.9)
4.3
(39.7)
2.1
(35.8)
6.5
(43.7)
Record low °C (°F) −20.0
(−4.0)
−15.2
(4.6)
−12.0
(10.4)
−6.5
(20.3)
−2.0
(28.4)
−0.5
(31.1)
3.0
(37.4)
1.5
(34.7)
−0.5
(31.1)
−6.5
(20.3)
−10.5
(13.1)
−12.0
(10.4)
−20.0
(−4.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 72.0
(2.83)
58.0
(2.28)
58.7
(2.31)
51.6
(2.03)
66.1
(2.60)
59.9
(2.36)
55.0
(2.17)
51.3
(2.02)
53.5
(2.11)
70.6
(2.78)
74.4
(2.93)
88.5
(3.48)
759.0
(29.88)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 13.8 11.3 10.7 10.4 9.8 8.5 7.9 7.6 8.5 12.2 13.5 14.3 128.6
Source: Meteociel[6]

See also

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References

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  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" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^   One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "La Ferté-Bernard". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 16 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 68.
  4. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  5. ^ Bernardi, Gabriella (2016-03-14). The Unforgotten Sisters: Female Astronomers and Scientists before Caroline Herschel. Springer. ISBN 9783319261270.
  6. ^ "Normales et records pour Cormes (72)". Meteociel. Retrieved 20 November 2024.