Vieux-Vy-sur-Couesnon

Geography

Vieux-Vy-sur-Couesnon is located on the Couesnon River 33 km northeast of Rennes and 35 km south of Mont Saint-Michel.

The neighboring communes are Romazy, Chauvigné, Saint-Christophe-de-Valains, Saint-Ouen-des-Alleux, Mézières-sur-Couesnon, Gahard, and Sens-de-Bretagne.

History

The name Vieux-Vy-sur-Couesnon probably comes from the Latin Vetus Victus, "old market town." The settlement has had this name since at least 1063.

Economy

Industries:

• Silver-lead ore was mined in the 19th century at a place called Brais. The mine was closed in 1956.
• A granite quarry is still in operation in the northeast, not far from the former mine site.

Population

Inhabitants of Vieux-Vy-sur-Couesnon are called Vieuxviciens in French.

|1962 | 1023 |1968 | 941 |1975 | 928 |1982 | 835 |1990 | 863 |1999 | 861 |2009 | 1095

Transportation

The village is served by just one bus route, the Rennes/Antrain line.

Sights

• The Saint-Germain church, most of which dates from the seventeenth century, although certain parts date from the eleventh century. The organ was installed in 1883.
• The Chateau of Moulinet, dating from the nineteenth century.
• The Grotto of Brais (dedicated to the Virgin Mary).
• Within the village boundaries there are seven watermills on the Couesnon river. These are mainly paper mills.
• The cyclopean Wall of Orange (from the Iron Age).
• A trough-shaped granite sarcophagus, first mentioned in 1020, located at the door to the church.

References

References

1. (2 December 2020). "Répertoire national des élus: les maires".