- Condom, Gers
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Condom
Condom Cathedral 
CondomAdministration Country France Region Midi-Pyrénées Department Gers Arrondissement Condom Canton Condom Intercommunality La Ténarèze Mayor Bernard Gallard Statistics Elevation 62–190 m (203–620 ft)
(avg. 82 m/269 ft)Land area1 97.37 km2 (37.59 sq mi) Population2 7,193 (2008) - Density 74 /km2 (190 /sq mi) INSEE/Postal code 32107/ 32100 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. Coordinates: 43°57′30″N 0°22′25″E / 43.9583333333°N 0.373611111111°E
Condom (Occitan: Condòm; French pronunciation: [kɔ̃dɔ̃]), also referred to as Condom-en-Armagnac, is a commune in southwestern France in the department of Gers, of which it is a subprefecture.
Contents
Way of St. James
Condom is a town on the Via Podiensis, one of the three major French arms of the pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James. This particular route begins in Le Puy and ends in Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain. Pilgrims arrive at Condom after Miradoux and continue on to Larressingle.
Name
Given the more widespread social use, in the English language, of the word condom, it is interesting to note that the town is located on the river Baïse; baise, without the diaeresis, is a French vulgarism for a sexual act. In European French however, a condom is usually called préservatif rather than a condom. It is also home to a museum of famous population-control devices.[1][2]
Population
Historical population of Condom, Gers 1800 1806 1821 1831 1841 1846 1851 1856 1861 1866 6861 7298 7319 7323 6915 7195 7205 7553 8070 8140 1872 1876 1881 1886 1891 1896 1901 1906 1911 1921 8282 7873 8555 7902 7405 7045 6578 6435 6380 5773 1926 1931 1936 1946 1954 1962 1968 1975 1982 1990 6355 6310 6233 6725 6781 6850 7326 7853 7634 7717 1999 2008 7251 7193 Sights
Condom is the site of two castles, the Château de Mothes and the Château de Pouypardin, both started in the 13th century. In total, 19 sites in Condom are listed as monuments historiques by the French Ministry of Culture, including the cathedral, churches and houses.
Condom is known for the production of Armagnac, an international music festival of "bandas", an international chess tournament and an international chess marathon. It is also known for its tourism with farm campings and boating on waterways.
Sister city
See also
References
- ^ Musée du préservatif Pays en France (retrieved November 6, 2007)
- ^ The Town of Condom (retrieved November 6, 2007)
External links
- Official website (French)
- Ministry of Culture entries for Condom(French)
- Condom Cathedral aerial photo
- Pictures of Condom (French)
- Le bonheur est dans le pré (Internet Movie Database)
Categories:- Communes of Gers
- Subprefectures in France
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