Bernay, Eure

Commune française
nomcommune=Bernay
région=Haute-Normandie
département=Eure
arrondissement=Bernay
canton=Bernay-Est, Bernay-Ouest
insee=27056
cp=27300
maire=Hervé Maurey
mandat=2001-2008
intercomm=Bernay et ses environs
longitude=0.599166666667
latitude=49.0894444444
alt moy=108
alt mini=87
alt maxi=173
hectares=2403
km²=24.03
sans=11,024
date-sans=1999
dens=458.8
date-dens=1999

Bernay is a commune in the west of the Eure department about fifty km from Évreux in northern France. The city is in the Pays d'Ouche and the Lieuvin. On its territory run the Charentonne, an affluent of the Risle and the Cosnier.

History

The etymological origin of Bernay indicates that it is a marshy place, which does not surprise since the Charentonne river comes to butt against a slope ("les Monts") and receives the Cosnier river that has an important flow.

Between 996 and 1008, the duke of Normandy, Richard II, offers this area in dowry to his wife, Judith of Brittany, who built a Bénédictine abbey at once. The monks arrange the site by important hydraulic work: cleansing, mills, fisheries... and the construction of an abbey which remains a jewel of the Norman Romanesque architecture . To cover the expenses and to ensure their defense, they yield a part of their property in 1048.

The commercial activity attested since 1198 takes its rise on the principal axis of the town. The industry of cloth is famous, the fairs are numerous (the "Foire Fleurie" at the time of Palm Sunday is memorable), because of the diversity and the abundance of the agricultural produce of the area. Besides Bernay holds a big market each Saturday. The veneration of "Notre-Dame de la Couture" as of XIII century, is at the origin of important pilgrimages which attract crowd of all Normandy, the diocesan Marian pilgrimage still takes place each Whit Monday.

During the XIX century, important installations of roadway system modernize the city, and the evolution of the industrial structure is directed towards the circumference of the city. This development will continue during last century, with the arrival of new industries and the considerable extension of Bernay on the slopes overhanging the traditional center, which has remained faithful to its origins.

At the time of the Second World war, the city escapes the Canadian bombardments in August 1944 thanks to a thick layer of cloud, thus preserving the historical center.

Twin towns

*flagicon|United Kingdom Haslemere
*flagicon|GermanyCloppenburg
*flagicon|USA Jennings