Place:Vimoutiers, Orne, France

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source: Family History Library Catalog

the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

Vimoutiers is a commune in the Orne department in north-western France.

The finish line of the Paris–Camembert bicycle race is Vimoutiers.

History

the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

In 1040 while besieging a nearby Norman castle, Alan III, Duke of Brittany died suddenly in Vimoutiers, then a possession of the Duchy of Normandy. His death was thought to be caused by poisoning.

On 14 June 1944, during the Battle of Normandy, Vimoutiers was bombarded by Allied forces. The village was destroyed and 220 people died. With the encouragement of Margaret Mitchell, the author of Gone with the Wind, the members of Pilot Club International raised funds to restore the city. La Place du Pilot Club International is a square in Vimoutiers which commemorates their generosity. 400 people of Van Wert, Ohio also contributed in the costs of reconstruction and reparation of the town. They volunteered to pay for the replacement of Marie Harel's statue in 1953. This is recorded by a plaque in the market square of Vimoutiers.

A German Tiger I tank is on display on the outskirts of the city after being retrieved from abandonment in a roadside ditch in 1975. It is one of the world's remaining seven Tiger I tanks.

The beautiful and strategic location of Vimoutiers attracts numerous tourists for sporting events, recreation and overnight rest. Modern hotels and small restaurants cater to visitors.

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