Department of Manche
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Location: North-West France
Surname/tag: FRENCH_ROOTS
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History
Manche is one of the first 83 departments created during the French Revolution in 1790. It was created from part of the province of Normandie.
The first capital was Coutances until 1796, and it resumed that role after World War II because of the almost complete destruction of Saint-Lô during the battle of Normandy following D-Day. When Saint-Lô was rebuilt, it again became the capital.
Geography
Manche is named for the English Channel, which is known as La Manche, literally "the sleeve" in French. The department borders its northern and western shores and part of its eastern shore.
The Department includes the Cotentin Peninsula down to the famous Mont St Michel; though of the off-shore Channel Islands only Chausey forms part of the territory of the department.
Manche borders the Normandy departments of Calvados to the east and Orne to the southeast. Mayenne, a department of the Pays de la Loire, is to the south-east, and Ille-et-Vilaine in Brittany is to the south-west.
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