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Fougères (Municipality, Ille-et-Vilaine, France)

by Arnaud Leroy

Presentation of Fougères
Municipal flag of Fougères

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Presentation of Fougères

Fougéres (22,819 inhabitants) is a sous-préfecture of the departement of Ille-et-Villaine. The city was built on the banks of the river Nancon, on the historical boundary between France and Brittany.

In the XIIIth century, Raoul II led a revolt of the Breton barons against their suzereign, Henry II Plantagenet, King of England and Duke of Normandy. In 1166, Henry II seized the city and destroyed the castle, which was immediatly rebuilt by Raoul, and is still standing on the right bank of the Nancon. Although strongly fortified, the castle of Fougères was seized several times, e.g. by Saint-Louis and Constable Du Guesclin.

Marquis de la Rouerie (1751-1793), one of the leader of the chouannerie, the Royalist insurrection which spread over western France between 1793 and 1800, was born in Fougères. The French novelist Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850) located episodes of his novel Les Chouans in Fougères.

Fougères is known for its crystal-works, founded in 1645, and shoe industry, which started in 1852.

Ivan Sache, 7 February 2002

Municipal flag of Fougères

The municipal flag of Fougères is quartered, 1 and 4 yellow with three fern leaves, 2 and 3 semy of ermine spots. According to P. Rault [rau98], this flag was used in Fougères in the late 1960s.

The flag is canting since fougère means fern in French. First mention of the city name is Fulgeriis (1144), from Latin filicaria, i.e. fern.

Ivan Sache, 7 February 2002