commune
A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to:
Administrative-territorial entities
* Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township
** Communes of ...
in the
Mayenne
Mayenne () is a landlocked department in northwest France named after the river Mayenne. Mayenne is part of the administrative region of Pays de la Loire and is surrounded by the departments of Manche, Orne, Sarthe, Maine-et-Loire, and Ill ...
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
It is about south of Laval, the préfecture of the department of Mayenne. Château-Gontier is home to the Refuge de l'Arche, also known as the Ark Refug a refuge for abandoned or mistreated animals.
History
There are chalybeate springs close to the town. Château-Gontier owes its origin and its name to a castle erected in the first half of the 11th century by Gunther, the steward of Fulk Nerra of Anjou, on the site of a farm belonging to the monks of St Aubin d’Angers. On the extinction of the family, the lordship was assigned by Louis XI of France to
Philippe de Comines
Philippe de Commines (or de Commynes or "Philippe de Comines"; Latin: ''Philippus Cominaeus''; 1447 – 18 October 1511) was a writer and diplomat in the courts of Burgundy and France. He has been called "the first truly modern writer" (Charles ...
The following buildings have been listed as historical monuments:
*The ruined 13th century castle
*The 11th century church of Saint John Baptist
*The church of the Holy Trinity
*The 12th century chapel of Le Genneteil
*The 16th century chapel of Le Moulinet
*The 17th century Hôtel de Lantivy
People
*
Conan II, Duke of Brittany
Conan II of Rennes (c. 1033 – 11 December 1066) was Duke of Brittany, from 1040 to his death. Conan was the eldest child and heir of Alan III, Duke of Brittany by his wife Bertha of Blois, and member of the House of Rennes. He was the elder br ...
was found dead here during the Breton Norman Wars, likely the victim of poisoning.
*
Claude Pompidou
Claude Jacqueline Pompidou (née Cahour; 13 November 1912 – 3 July 2007) was the wife of President of France Georges Pompidou. She was a philanthropist and a patron of modern art, especially through the Centre Georges Pompidou.
Life before ...
Louis-François Allard
Louis-François Allard ( - ) was a French physician and politician.
First years
His father, René Allard, was a merchant and a public figure in Craon: he was convened in 1770 by the Présidial Councillor, as well as master Jacques-René Chasse ...
(1735-1819), physician and politician.
*
Guy de Charnacé
Ernest Charles Guy de Girard, count then marquis de Charnacé (3 May 1825 – 3 March 1909) was a French writer, journalist, agronomist and musicologist. In Anjou, he was called the "hero of Bois-Montbourcher".
Biography
Originally from a famil ...
(1825–1909), agronomist, writer, musicologist was born here.
*
Alexis Roger
Alexis-André Roger (11 June 1814 – 1846) was a French composer.
Born in Château-Gontier, in 1828 Roger was admitted to study at the Conservatoire de Paris. He studied harmony with Victor Dourlen, counterpoint with Anton Reicha, piano with P ...
, French composer (1814–1846), was born here.
*
Olivier Peslier
Olivier Peslier (born 12 January 1973 in Château-Gontier) is a French thoroughbred horse racing jockey.
Peslier competes in flat racing mainly in France but travels often around the world for the big international races. He was a retained joc ...