Pontivy Explained

Pontivy
Native Name:Pondi
Commune Status:Subprefecture and commune
Image Coat Of Arms:COA fr Pontivy.svg
Coordinates:48.0692°N -2.9614°W
Arrondissement:Pontivy
Canton:Pontivy
Insee:56178
Postal Code:56300
Mayor:Christine Le Strat[1]
Term:2020 - 2026
Intercommunality:Pontivy Communauté
Elevation M:60
Elevation Min M:48
Elevation Max M:192
Area Km2:24.85

Pontivy (in French pronounced as /pɔ̃tivi/;) is a commune in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France.[2] It lies at the confluence of the river Blavet and the Canal de Nantes à Brest. Inhabitants of Pontivy are called Pontivyens in French.

History

A monk called Ivy built a bridge nearby over the river Blavet in the 7th century, and the town is named after him ("pont-Ivi" being the Breton for "Ivy's bridge").[3] From November 9, 1804, the name was changed to Napoléonville after Napoléon Bonaparte, under whom it had around 3,000 inhabitants. After his downfall, it was renamed Pontivy again, then later Bourbonville, and Napoléonville again after Napoléon III came to power.

Economy

This is a largely agricultural town.

Breton language

The municipality launched a linguistic plan through Ya d'ar brezhoneg on 8 August 2004. As part of that plan, all road signs in the town centre are bilingual.[4]

In 2008, 11.34% of the children in the town attended the bilingual schools in primary education.[5]

Sights

Events

Twin towns

The town maintains twinning links with:

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Maires du Morbihan. 7 July 2020. Préfecture du Morbihan.
  2. https://www.insee.fr/fr/metadonnees/cog/commune/COM56178-pontivy INSEE commune file
  3. Commune de Pontivy: Etude Normative des Toponymes . Web site: Archived copy . 2011-08-01 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111002034506/http://www.pontivy.fr/pontivy/public/Le_saviez-vous/pontivy-toponymie.pdf . 2011-10-02 .
  4. Web site: Des plaques de rue bilingues à Pontivy. Ofis ar Brezhoneg. fr .
  5. Web site: Enseignement bilingue. Ofis ar Brezhoneg. fr.