Bouvron (; ) is a commune in the

Loire-Atlantique Loire-Atlantique (; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Louére-Atantique''; ; before 1957: ''Loire-Inférieure'', ) is a departments of France, department in Pays de la Loire on the west coast of France, named after the river Loire and the Atlantic Ocean. ...

department in western

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

Geography

Bouvron is near the following communes : Blain,

Fay-de-Bretagne Fay-de-Bretagne (, literally ''Fay of Brittany''; Gallo: ''Faè'' or ''Faï'', ) is a commune in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France. Population See also *Communes of the Loire-Atlantique department The following is a list ...

, Guenrouet,

Savenay Savenay (; ''Savenneg'' in Breton) is a town (administratively a commune) in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France which is part of the Pays de la Loire region. It is located on the Sillon de Bretagne (a mountain range defining the ...

Campbon Campbon (; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Caunbon'', ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Loire-Atlantique Departments of France, department in western France. Population See also *Communes of the Loire-Atlantique department References

...

and Quilly. The commune is near the

Canal de Nantes à Brest Canals or artificial waterways are waterways or engineered channels built for drainage management (e.g. flood control and irrigation) or for conveyancing water transport vehicles (e.g. water taxi). They carry free, calm surface flow u ...

and the forest of Gâvre. Bouvron is situated 36 km to the east of

Saint-Nazaire Saint-Nazaire (; ; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Loire-Atlantique Departments of France, department in western France, in traditional Brittany. The town has a major harbour on the right bank of the Loire estuary, near the Atlantic Oc ...

and 49 km to the north of

Nantes Nantes (, ; ; or ; ) is a city in the Loire-Atlantique department of France on the Loire, from the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic coast. The city is the List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, sixth largest in France, with a pop ...

History

The tradition went that the name "Bouvron" derived from the word (ox; cf ) because Bouvron was anciently reputed for its fair for the trade of young oxen. and the merchants of these animals were known as the ''bouverons''. But the name ''Boveron'' or ''Bouveron'' appeared in the texts only from the 12th century onwards, whereas in one text dated 8 May 878 from the

cartulary A cartulary or chartulary (; Latin: ''cartularium'' or ''chartularium''), also called ''pancarta'' or ''codex diplomaticus'', is a medieval manuscript volume or roll ('' rotulus'') containing transcriptions of original documents relating to the fo ...

Redon Abbey Redon Abbey, or Abbey of Saint-Sauveur, Redon ("Abbey of the Holy Saviour"; ), in Redon in the present Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany, France, is a former Benedictine abbey founded in 832 by Saint Conwoïon, at the point where the Oust flows into the ...

, the name ''Buluuron'' is used for the estate when it was granted to the abbey, in

Redon, Ille-et-Vilaine Redon (; ) is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany in northwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department. Geography Redon borders the Morbihan and Loire-Atlantique departments. It is situated at the junction of ...

. An etymological study reveals that "Buluuron" is derived from the Gallic ''bébronnos'', made up of ''bébros'' (= "beaver") and ''onnos'' (= "river").

Population

Sights

Monument of the surrender of the Poche of Saint-Nazaire 11 May 1945

This monument is a reminder that the Second World War in Europe concluded on 11 May 1945 in Bouvron, in a field, and not in Berlin on 8 May 1945 (or 9 May for the Russians).

Castle of Quéhillac

A remarkable architectural ensemble of the 16th and 17th centuries composed of the castel, the chapel, the chaplain's home, the stables, the bridge and the moats. The ensemble is registered on the list of the French historical monuments "Monuments Historiques" since 22 November of 2002. In 1640,

Nicolas Fouquet Nicolas Fouquet, marquis de Belle-Île, vicomte de Melun et Vaux (; 27 January 1615 – 23 March 1680) was the Superintendent of Finances in France from 1653 until 1661 under King Louis XIV. He had a glittering career, and acquired enormous weal ...

, finance's minister of Louis XIV married in his first wedding Louise Fourché de Quéhillac, who adduces him 160.000 livres as her dowry.

Castle of Launay-Bedeau

It was a medieval castle situated in the small village of Launay-Bedeau. It was simply a fortified tower with ramparts. In 1944, it was bombed. After the Second World War, it was skimmed over, in spite of the importance of this medieval cultural heritage. The stones were reused to build a farm, a pigpen and to gravel the small ways. The only vestiges you can see now are a doorstep, a tabernacle of the chapel and, of course, the beautiful moats of the castle.

Chapel of Saint-Julien

Situated in the hamlet of Saint-Julien, on the RD43 (departemental road), this chapel was raised on the lands of the monastery of Gavalais, a village at 2.5 km in the south-west of the chapel. It is dedicated to Saint Julien the Hospitalier and accommodate a statue of this saint in military costume. Damaged at the French Revolution, this chapel was many times renovated. Work to safeguard it were carried out in 1962.

Chapel of Saint-André

It is situated in the hamlet Le Châtel, at 1 km in south-east of Bouvron. It is dedicated to the first apostle of the Christ, St André, saint patron of the parish.

Personalities

René Waldeck-Rousseau Pierre Marie René Ernest Waldeck-Rousseau (; 2 December 184610 August 1904) was a French Republicanism, Republican politician who served for three years as the Prime Minister of France. Early life Pierre Waldeck-Rousseau was born in Nantes, ...

stayed numerous years in the familial secondary residence during his years out of politics.

Charles de Gaulle Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle (22 November 18909 November 1970) was a French general and statesman who led the Free France, Free French Forces against Nazi Germany in World War II and chaired the Provisional Government of the French Re ...

came to inaugurate the monument of the surrender of the Poche de Saint-Nazaire. The 2nd World War didn't finish the on 8 May 1945 in Berlin, but on 11 May 1945 in Bouvron, in a field.

References

External links

Official website of the commune

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bouvron Communes of Loire-Atlantique