Last modified: 2021-06-30 by ivan sache
Keywords: villedieu-les-poêles-rouffigny |
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![[Flag]](../images/f/fr-50-vp.gif)
Flag of Villedieu-les-Poêles-Rouffigny - Image by Olivier Touzeau, 6 March 2021
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The municipality of Villedieu-les-Poêles-Rouffigny (3,550 inhabitants in 2018; 805 ha) was established on 1 January 2016 as the merger of the former municipalities of Villedieu-les-Poêles (seat), and Rouffigny.
Olivier Touzeau, 6 March 2021
The flag of the former municipality of Villedieu-les-Poêles is still in use in Villedieu-les-Poêles-Rouffigny.
Olivier Touzeau, 6 March 2021
Villedieu-les-Poêles
Villedieu (God's Town) was named for the Order of the Knights Hospitaller, subsequently the Knights of Malta, who were granted the place in the 12th century by Henry I, King of England and Duke of Normandy. Low taxes and good administration attracted people to Villedieu. Advanced coppersmithing technology was presumably imported from the Middle East by the knights. By the early 14th century, the Corporation of the Coppersmiths of Villedieu was officially recognized by the kings of France.
Villedieu is still a a centre of metal-work, especially
brass and copper pans and basins ("poêles"). The town is also famous for its artisanal manufacture of large church bells, which was started by immigrants from Lorraine around 1780. It houses one of the five bell foundries in France, which notably supplied the bells of Notre-Dame de Paris in 2013.
The inhabitants of Villedieu-les-Poêles are called Sourdins, from the French world "sourd", "deaf"; most people involved in the manufacturing of copper pans,
which involved repeated hammering, became deaf.
The flag of Villedieu-les-Poêles (photo, photo) is white with the municipal coat of arms, "Per pale, 1. Argent a cross couped gules, 2. Or 18 billets sable 4,5,4,3,2. A chief azure a cross couped argent. The shield displayed on a Maltese cross", surmounted by the name of the municipality above it.
Olivier Touzeau, 6 March 2021
![[Flag]](../images/f/fr-50!vp.gif)
Unidentified flag hoisted in Villedieu-les-Poêles-Rouffigny - Image by Olivier Touzeau, 6 March 2021
An unidentified red flag quartered by a yellow cross and charged with two Greek crosses in the upper hoist and the lower fly, respectively, could be seen in May 2013 near the tourist office (photo) dividing a red field.
Olivier Touzeau, 6 March 2021