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

Flag of Fougères - Image by Arnaud Leroy, 7 February 2002

Presentation of Fougères
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 is located on the banks of the river Nancon, on the historical boundary between France and Brittany.

In the 13th 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

Flag of Fougères

The Flag of Fougères is quartered, 1 and 4 yellow with three fern fronds (leaves), 2 and 3 semy of ermine spots. According to P. Rault (Les drapeaux bretons de 1188 à nos jours [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 town's name is Fulgeriis (1144), from Latin filicaria, fern.

Arnaud Leroy & Ivan Sache, 7 February 2002