Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre

Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃ loʁɑ̃ syʁ sɛvʁ], literally Saint-Laurent on Sèvre) is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.

Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre
The church of Saint-Laurent, in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre
The church of Saint-Laurent, in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre
Coat of arms of Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre
Location of Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre
Map
Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre is located in France
Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre
Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre
Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre is located in Pays de la Loire
Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre
Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre
Coordinates: 46°57′34″N 0°53′30″W / 46.9594°N 0.8916°W / 46.9594; -0.8916
CountryFrance
RegionPays de la Loire
DepartmentVendée
ArrondissementLa Roche-sur-Yon
CantonMortagne-sur-Sèvre
IntercommunalityPays de Mortagne
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Éric Couderc[1]
Area
1
15.79 km2 (6.10 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
3,664
 • Density230/km2 (600/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
85238 /85290
Elevation98–199 m (322–653 ft)
(avg. 110 m or 360 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 2,545—    
1975 2,835+1.55%
1982 3,208+1.78%
1990 3,247+0.15%
1999 3,307+0.20%
2007 3,397+0.34%
2012 3,535+0.80%
2017 3,617+0.46%
Source: INSEE[3]

Pilgrimage

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Some 25,000 visitors per year arrive at the town, for it is the burial place of two well known Roman Catholic figures: Saint Louis de Montfort and Blessed Marie Louise Trichet. The Basilica of Saint Louis de Montfort at Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre is an impressive structure that attracts a good number of pilgrims each year.

On September 19, 1996, Pope John-Paul II visited the town to meditate and pray on the adjacent tombs of Saint Louis and Blessed Marie Louise. Pope John Paul II's strong Marian devotion was highly influenced by the Mariology of Saint Louis de Montfort. According to his Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, the pontif's personal motto "Totus Tuus" was inspired by St. Louis' doctrine on total consecration to the Virgin Mary.[4]

Claire Ferchaud was born in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  4. ^ Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae