Mauron (; br, Maoron) is a

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

Morbihan Morbihan ( , ; br, Mor-Bihan ) is a department in the administrative region of Brittany, situated in the northwest of France. It is named after the Morbihan (''small sea'' in Breton), the enclosed sea that is the principal feature of the coastli ...

department Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military *Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...

and

Brittany Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, Historical region, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known ...

region In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...

of north-western

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

. It lies close to the borders of both Côtes d'Armor and

Ille-et-Vilaine Ille-et-Vilaine (; br, Il-ha-Gwilen) is a department of France, located in the region of Brittany in the northwest of the country. It is named after the two rivers of the Ille and the Vilaine. It had a population of 1,079,498 in 2019.

. Mauron's location make it a crossroads on the routes connecting

Dinan Dinan (; ) is a walled Breton town and a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in northwestern France. On 1 January 2018, the former commune of Léhon was merged into Dinan. Geography Its geographical setting is exceptional. Instead of n ...

Vannes Vannes (; br, Gwened) is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France. It was founded over 2,000 years ago. History Celtic Era The name ''Vannes'' comes from the Veneti, a seafaring Celtic people who lived ...

and

Quimper Quimper (, ; br, Kemper ; la, Civitas Aquilonia or ) is a commune and prefecture of the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France. Administration Quimper is the prefecture (capital) of the Finistère department. Geography The ...

Rennes Rennes (; br, Roazhon ; Gallo: ''Resnn''; ) is a city in the east of Brittany in northwestern France at the confluence of the Ille and the Vilaine. Rennes is the prefecture of the region of Brittany, as well as the Ille-et-Vilaine department ...

History

Aerial archaeology Aerial archaeology is the study of archaeological remains by examining them from a higher altitude. In present day, this is usually achieved by satellite images or through the use of drones. Details Aerial Archaeology involves interpretation an ...

has revealed the existence of a large number of Gaulish farms, attesting to the agricultural wealth of the territory, which is traversed by the Roman road leading from Quimper to Rennes.

Saint Judicaël Saint Judicael or Judicaël ( – 16 December 647 or 652) ( Welsh:Ithel), also spelled Judhael (with many other variants), was the King of Domnonée, part of Brittany, in the mid-7th century and later revered as a Roman Catholic saint. Ba ...

founded a monastery in the area, at a place called Saint-Léry. The first historical mention of Mauron dates from 1152. In the eighteenth century, a fair was held here on 28 October each year, the feast of St Simon.

Battle of Mauron

On 14 August 1352 six hundred French Bretons (who supported

King John II of France John II (french: Jean II; 26 April 1319 – 8 April 1364), called John the Good (French: ''Jean le Bon''), was King of France from 1350 until his death in 1364. When he came to power, France faced several disasters: the Black Death, which killed ...

, the protector of

Charles of Blois Charles of Blois-Châtillon (131929 September 1364), nicknamed "the Saint", was the legalist Duke of Brittany from 1341 until his death, via his marriage to Joan, Duchess of Brittany and Countess of Penthièvre, holding the title against the cl ...

) under the leadership of the

marshal Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used for elevated o ...

Offemont Offemont () is a commune in the Territoire de Belfort department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in northeastern France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of ...

fought Anglo-Breton troops (supporting the Montfort side) which was led by Gaultier de Genteley (or Venteley, or Benteley). He was assisted by Tanguy du Chastel, Yves Trésiguidy and Garnier de Cadoual. The battle appears to have taken place near the village of Bois-de-la-Roche. The king's troops lost the battle, and many corpses were left on the field of battle, including those of the marshal of Offemont, the count of

Marche Marche ( , ) is one of the twenty regions of Italy. In English, the region is sometimes referred to as The Marches ( ). The region is located in the central area of the country, bordered by Emilia-Romagna and the republic of San Marino to the ...

, the lords of

Bricquebec Bricquebec () is a former commune in the Manche department in Normandy in northwestern France. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Bricquebec-en-Cotentin.Beauvais Beauvais ( , ; pcd, Bieuvais) is a city and commune in northern France, and prefecture of the Oise département, in the Hauts-de-France region, north of Paris. The commune of Beauvais had a population of 56,020 , making it the most populous ...

, Alain VII (11th viscount Rohan),

Tinténiac Tinténiac (; br, Tintenieg; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Teintenyac'') is a Communes of France, commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine Departments of France, department in Brittany (administrative region), Brittany in northwestern France. Population Inhabi ...

, and a significant number of knights (around 140).

Demographics

In 2017 the commune had 3,082 inhabitants. In French the inhabitants of Mauron are known as ''Mauronnais''.

Breton language

In September 2019, 25 of the commune's 179 public primary school pupils were being educated bilingually.

Sites and Monuments

Religious

* The Church of St Peter. * The Monastery of l'Action de Grâces, founded by Virginie Danion, a native of Mauron, in 1869. A painting by Alphonse Le Hénaff can be seen in the chapel. * The 17th-century Chapel of St Anne in the village of

Beuve Saint Beuve (or Bove or Bova) and her brother Balderic (or Baudry) lived in the 7th century in France. According to Christian Settipani, their father was probably Sigobert the Lame, King of Cologne, rather than Sigebert I of Austrasia, as indicate ...

, near the site of a château which was destroyed in 1676.

Civil

* Château de Boyer * Château du Ferron * Château de La Ville-Davy * Starting-point of the "Voie verte Mauron Questembert" (a footpath running from Mauron to

Questembert Questembert (; ) is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France. It is located approximately from Vannes. Demographics Inhabitants of Questembert are called ''Questembertois''. Its population was 7,723 as of 2018. ...

): an idea formulated by the General Council of Morbihan and opened in 2002. It uses the ancient route of the railway line from La Brohinière to

Ploërmel Church Saint-Armel Ploërmel (; ; Gallo language: ''Pieurmè'') is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France. On 1 January 2019, the former commune Monterrein was merged into Ploërmel. Character of the town The ...

and then the Ploërmel to Questembert line.

Personalities connected to the commune

* The playwright

Romain Weingarten Romain Weingarten (5 December 1926 – 13 July 2006) was a French playwright. He was born in Paris, and grew up in Brittany and Château-Thierry. He studied philosophy at the Sorbonne, where he was strongly influenced by the work of Antonin ...

(1926-2006) is buried in Mauron, to which he had retired in later life. * Virginie Danion, founder of the monastery of l'Action de Grâces and sister-in-law of the architect Sigismond Ropartz,

Twin towns

Mauron is twinned with the town of Newmarket in

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...