Lillebonne

Lillebonne

Roman theater

Coat of arms
Lillebonne

Coordinates: 49°31′08″N 0°32′03″E / 49.5189°N 0.5343°E / 49.5189; 0.5343Coordinates: 49°31′08″N 0°32′03″E / 49.5189°N 0.5343°E / 49.5189; 0.5343
Country France
Region Normandy
Department Seine-Maritime
Arrondissement Le Havre
Canton Lillebonne
Intercommunality Caux-Vallée de Seine
Government
 • Mayor (2008–2013) Nicolas Beaussart
Area1 14.66 km2 (5.66 sq mi)
Population (2006)2 9,866
 • Density 670/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
INSEE/Postal code 76384 / 76170
Elevation 0–1,338 m (0–4,390 ft)
(avg. 6 m or 20 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.

Lillebonne is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France. It lies 3.5 miles (5.6 km) miles north of the Seine and 24 miles (39 km) east of Le Havre.

History

Before the Roman conquest of Gaul Juliobona was the capital of the Caletes, or inhabitants of the Pays de Caux. It was destroyed by Julius Caesar and afterwards rebuilt by Augustus. Before it was again ruined by the barbarian invasions, it had become an important centre whence Roman roads branched out in all directions. It was an administrative, military and commercial city located close to the Seine. This made it a great transportation route between Brittany (current England) and the remainder of the Roman Empire. It was also a crossroads of communication in order to bring Roman ways to Harfleur, Étretat, Dieppe, Évreux and Rouen.

The remains of Roman baths and of a theater capable of holding 3,000 persons have been brought to light. Many Roman and Gallic relics, notably a bronze statue of Apollo (exposed in Le Louvre), and two fine mosaics exposed to the museum at Rouen, have been found. In the Middle Ages the fortifications of the town were constructed out of materials supplied by the Roman theater. The town recovered some of its old importance under William the Conqueror.

Geography

Lillebonne lies in the valley of the Bolbec River at the foot of wooded hills at the junction of the D982, D29 and the D81 roads.,

Sights

Castle of William of Normandy in Lillebonne

The church of Notre Dame, partly modern, preserves a Gothic portal of the 16th century and a graceful tower of the same period. The park contains a fine cylindrical donjon and other remains of a castle founded by William the Conqueror and rebuilt in the 13th century.

The Gallo-Roman amphitheater of Lillebonne was built in the first century and was altered in the second century so that it could be used as both an amphitheater and a theater. Part of its remains are still visible today from Félix Faur Square, and the foundations of some of its remnants (the wings and backdrop) remain under the square.

Economy

The principal industries were cotton-spinning and the manufacture of calico and candles. Petrochemistry is now the main industry in the area, with a part of the nearby Notre-Dame-de-Gravenchon refining and petrochemical complex extending over the Lillebonne commune.

Twin towns

See also

References

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