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Bernay (French pronunciation: [bɛʁnɛ] ) is a commune in the west of the Eure department in Northern France.

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Bernay
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Hôtel de la Gabelle
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Location of Bernay
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Bernay
Bernay
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Bernay
Bernay
Coordinates: 49°05′N 0°36′E
CountryFrance
RegionNormandy
DepartmentEure
ArrondissementBernay
CantonBernay
IntercommunalityIntercom Bernay Terres de Normandie
Government
  Mayor (20202026) Marie-Lyne Vagner[1]
Area
1
24.03 km2 (9.28 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
9,622
  Density400/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
27056 /27300
Elevation87–173 m (285–568 ft)
(avg. 108 m or 354 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
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In 2012, Bernay was designated one of the French Towns and Lands of Art and History.[3]

Geography

Bernay is in the valley of the Charentonne, a tributary of the Risle, about 50 km (31 mi) west from Évreux. The city is on the border of the Pays d'Ouche and the Lieuvin. Bernay station has rail connections to Caen, Évreux, Paris, Rouen, Deauville and Lisieux.

The commune along with another 69 communes shares part of a 4,747 hectare, Natura 2000 conservation area, called Risle, Guiel, Charentonne.[4]

History

The name Bernay is rooted in 5th century Roman settlement Brinnacu, from the Latin Brinnacum ("braided"), reflecting the marshy braided river land that the original settlement was built on.[5] The city has expanded around the River Charentonne, shielded by the incline to highlands ("les Monts") at the top of the Charentonne valley. The town has grown to encompass a portion of the smaller Cosnier, a tributary of the Charentonne.

Between 996 and 1008, Duke of Normandy Richard II offered this area in dowry to his wife, Judith of Brittany, who then provided for the building of a Benedictine abbey. The monks used the rivers flowing through the area for industry, for example cleansing, mills and fisheries. The abbey still stands, an example of Norman Romanesque architecture. To cover their expenses and to assure their protection, the monks yielded a part of the property in 1048. The veneration of "Notre-Dame de la Couture" (13th century) is the starting-point of important pilgrimages, which attract people from across Normandy; the diocesan Marian pilgrimage still takes place each Whit Monday.

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Funerary slab of Abbot Guillaume d'Auvillars of Bec

The 15th-century parish church of Sainte-Croix contains a main altar and a quantity of statuary, including the funerary slabs of five abbots, transferred here from Bec Abbey after it was suppressed in 1792 during the French Revolution.[6][7][8][9]

The town is known for its cloth industry. Because of the diversity and abundance of the agricultural produce of the area, the town has a history of hosting market fairs, such as the "Foire Fleurie" each Palm Sunday. Bernay holds a large street market each Saturday, which takes over much of the old part of the town.

During the 19th century, when the road system was modernized, most industrial development moved to the outskirts of the town. During the 20th century, the arrival of new industries continued the outward expansion of Bernay, which now includes the slopes overlooking the historical city centre, which has maintained many of its original buildings.

In August 1944, during World War II, the First Canadian Army advanced east towards the Seine following the successful Operation Tractable. The Canadians liberated Bernay, which escaped damage from the Canadian bombardment of the area thanks to a thick layer of cloud, thus preserving the historical city centre.

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Population

More information Year, Pop. ...
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1793 5,705    
1800 6,271+1.36%
1806 6,521+0.65%
1821 6,332−0.20%
1831 6,605+0.42%
1836 7,244+1.86%
1841 6,871−1.05%
1846 7,512+1.80%
1851 7,362−0.40%
1856 7,237−0.34%
1861 7,566+0.89%
1866 7,510−0.15%
1872 7,281−0.51%
1876 7,643+1.22%
1881 7,989+0.89%
1886 8,310+0.79%
1891 8,016−0.72%
1896 7,966−0.13%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901 8,159+0.48%
1906 8,115−0.11%
1911 7,883−0.58%
1921 7,440−0.58%
1926 7,587+0.39%
1931 7,700+0.30%
1936 7,783+0.21%
1946 8,174+0.49%
1954 8,798+0.92%
1962 9,349+0.76%
1968 10,009+1.14%
1975 10,539+0.74%
1982 10,548+0.01%
1990 10,582+0.04%
1999 11,024+0.46%
2007 10,434−0.69%
2012 10,399−0.07%
2017 10,085−0.61%
Source: EHESS[10] and INSEE (1968-2017)[11]
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Timber-framed houses in Bernay

People

Sister cities

Bernay has four international sister cities:

See also

References

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