Briouze (French pronunciation: [bʁijuz] (listen)) is a commune in the Orne department of Normandy in northwestern France. It is considered the capital of the pays d'Houlme at the western end of the Orne in the Norman bocage. The nearby Grand Hazé marshland is a heritage-listed area (Natura 2000).
Briouze | |
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Commune | |
![]() The town hall in Briouze | |
![]() Coat of arms | |
Location of Briouze ![]() | |
![]() ![]() Briouze ![]() ![]() Briouze | |
Coordinates: 48°42′00″N 0°21′57″W | |
Country | France |
Region | Normandy |
Department | Orne |
Arrondissement | Argentan |
Canton | Athis-Val de Rouvre |
Intercommunality | Flers Agglo |
Government | |
• Mayor (2020–2026) | Jacques Fortis[1] |
Area 1 | 17.15 km2 (6.62 sq mi) |
Population | 1,517 |
• Density | 88/km2 (230/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
INSEE/Postal code | 61063 /61220 |
Elevation | 197–254 m (646–833 ft) (avg. 212 m or 696 ft) |
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. |
William de Braose, First Lord of Bramber (Guillaume de Briouze) was granted lands in England after the Norman conquest and used his wealth to build a priory in his home town.
The name Briouze probably comes from an older Norman form of the word "boue", or "mud".
Year | Pop. | ±% |
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1936 | 1,524 | — |
1954 | 1,521 | −0.2% |
1962 | 1,518 | −0.2% |
1968 | 1,685 | +11.0% |
1975 | 1,703 | +1.1% |
1982 | 1,690 | −0.8% |
1990 | 1,658 | −1.9% |
1999 | 1,620 | −2.3% |
2007 | 1,600 | −1.2% |
2009 | 1,599 | −0.1% |
2012 | 1,565 | −2.1% |
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The arms of Briouze are blazoned : Azure, in base 2 clasped hands Or, and in chief a bird argent on waves couped sable from which issue reeds argent; all within a bordure argent semy of lozenges gules and ermine spots sable.
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Briouze station has rail connections to Argentan, Paris and Granville.
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