Aubigné-Racan (French pronunciation: [obiɲe ʁakɑ̃]) is a commune in the Sarthe department in the region of Pays de la Loire in north-western France.

Aubigné-Racan
The ruins of the theatre
The ruins of the theatre
Coat of arms of Aubigné-Racan
Location of Aubigné-Racan
Map
Aubigné-Racan is located in France
Aubigné-Racan
Aubigné-Racan
Aubigné-Racan is located in Pays de la Loire
Aubigné-Racan
Aubigné-Racan
Coordinates: 47°41′29″N 0°16′07″E / 47.6914°N 0.2686°E / 47.6914; 0.2686
CountryFrance
RegionPays de la Loire
DepartmentSarthe
ArrondissementLa Flèche
CantonLe Lude
IntercommunalityCC Sud Sarthe
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Nicolas Mourier[1]
Area
1
32.03 km2 (12.37 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
2,103
 • Density66/km2 (170/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
72013 /72800
Elevation37–118 m (121–387 ft)
(avg. 31 m or 102 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Population

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 1,858—    
1975 1,942+0.63%
1982 1,923−0.14%
1990 2,103+1.12%
1999 2,100−0.02%
2007 2,077−0.14%
2012 2,144+0.64%
2017 2,120−0.22%
Source: INSEE[3]

Sights

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In the surrounding countryside, one can find prehistoric standing stones, or dolmens ("dolmen de la Pierre" and "dolmen du Colombier").

Aubigné-Racan is also the site of the archeological excavation of Cherré, a Gallo-Roman complex of 20 hectares from the 1st to the 3rd centuries. The site was likely a rural centre of commercial and religious activity before the Roman conquest. Excavations in 1977 by C. Lambert and J. Rioufreyt discovered an ancient theatre, two temples, Roman thermae, a forum and an aqueduct.

The town has a Romanesque church from the 11th century.

People

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Aubigné-Racan is the birthplace of the 17th century poet and dramatist Honorat de Bueil, seigneur de Racan. His birthplace, the Manoir de Champmarin, is still standing.

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. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE