Bellou-en-Houlme is a commune in the Orne department in northwestern France.[3]

Bellou-en-Houlme
The church in Bellou-en-Houlme
The church in Bellou-en-Houlme
Location of Bellou-en-Houlme
Map
Bellou-en-Houlme is located in France
Bellou-en-Houlme
Bellou-en-Houlme
Bellou-en-Houlme is located in Normandy
Bellou-en-Houlme
Bellou-en-Houlme
Coordinates: 48°41′29″N 0°26′32″W / 48.6914°N 0.4422°W / 48.6914; -0.4422
CountryFrance
RegionNormandy
DepartmentOrne
ArrondissementArgentan
CantonLa Ferté-Macé
IntercommunalityCA Flers Agglo
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Jean-Marie Gaudin[1]
Area
1
38.73 km2 (14.95 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
1,042
 • Density27/km2 (70/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
61040 /61220
Elevation202–332 m (663–1,089 ft)
(avg. 221 m or 725 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Geography

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The commune is made up of the following collection of villages and hamlets, La Forêterie,Laubesnière, Le Val du Breuil, La Longrais,Le Clos,Le Pont and Bellou-en-Houlme.[4]

There are 10 watercourses that traverse through the commune, two rivers The Val du Breuil, and The Gine, in addition to eight streams. The eight streams are the Laurenciere, the Roussieres, la Haie, the Grand Ros, La Prevostiere, the Loget, the Lange and La Source Philippe.

Bellou-en-Houlme also has the largest marsh in the Orne department, shared with Briouze at 167.41 Ha, called the Grand-Hazé.[5]

Population

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 1,072—    
1975 926−2.07%
1982 961+0.53%
1990 912−0.65%
1999 954+0.50%
2009 1,096+1.40%
2014 1,115+0.34%
2020 1,053−0.95%
Source: INSEE[6]

Points of Interest

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Grand-Hazé is a 500 acres of Marshland that has been under the protection of the Natura 2000 since 2002, that is shared with Briouze.[7][5] The Marshland features Camargue horses and Highland cattle.[8]

National heritage sites

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The Commune has one buildings listed as a Monument historique, which is the Château de Dieufit, a farm house built in 1862, and listed in 2012.[9]

Notable People

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Twin towns – sister cities

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Bellou-en-Houlme is twinned with:[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 9 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Commune de Bellou-en-Houlme (61040)". INSEE.
  4. ^ a b "Bellou-en-Houlme · 61220, France". Bellou-en-Houlme · 61220, France.
  5. ^ a b "INPN - FSD Natura 2000 - FR2500092 - Marais du Grand Hazé - Description".
  6. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  7. ^ "Le Marais du Grand-Hazé BRIOUZE : Normandy Tourism". Normandy Tourism, France.
  8. ^ "Le Marais du Grand-Hazé - Patrimoine naturel - BRIOUZE". Orne Tourisme.
  9. ^ "Château de Dieufit à Bellou-en-Houlme - PA61000062".
  10. ^ Louis de La Roque, Catalog historique des généraux français, connétables, maréchaux de France, lieutenants généraux, maréchaux de camp. Connétables et maréchaux de France depuis les premiers temps de la monarchie jusqu'à la fin du règne de Louis XIV (Paris, A. Desaide, 1896-1902), p.25.
  11. ^ "24 jumelages franco-allemands dans l'Orne". Ouest-France.fr. 21 January 2013.