Bernay, Eure

Bernay
Subprefecture and commune
Hôtel de la Gabelle
Coat of arms
Bernay Location within Normandy region Bernay
Coordinates: 49°05′N 0°36′E / 49.09°N 0.60°E / 49.09; 0.60Coordinates: 49°05′N 0°36′E / 49.09°N 0.60°E / 49.09; 0.60
Country	France
Region	Normandy
Department	Eure
Arrondissement	Bernay
Canton	Bernay
Intercommunality	Bernay et ses environs
Government
• Mayor (2008–2014)	Hervé Maurey (NC)
Area1	24.03 km2 (9.28 sq mi)
Population (2009)2	10,285
• Density	430/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	27056 /27300
Elevation	87–173 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. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Bernay (French: [bɛʁnɛ]) is a commune in the west of the Eure department about 50km from Évreux in northern France. The city is in the Pays d'Ouche and the Lieuvin. Bernay is in the Charentonne valley, a tributary of the Risle.

In 2012, Bernay was designated one of the French Towns and Lands of Art and History.^[1]

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.^[2] 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.

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.

Population

Timber framed house in Bernay

People

• Romuald Boco, soccer player
• Edith Piaf, singer, lived with Bernay-based grandmother shortly after her birth
• Olivier Picard, archaeologist

Sister cities

Bernay has four international sister cities:

• Haslemere
• Cloppenburg
• Jennings, Louisiana
• Canal Winchester, Ohio

See also

• Communes of the Eure department

References

• INSEE

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Bernay.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bernay (Eure).